BROOKLYN COLLEGE–On Wednesday, March 26, in the Amersfort Room of the Student Center, Brooklyn College students were welcomed to an afternoon of donating clothes and browsing tables stocked with garments for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Alliance’s Gender-Affirming Clothing Swap event. The event, in collaboration with the New York Public Interest Research Group, was a way to let students, specifically transgender students, express their style in the way they want at zero cost.
The LGBTA president, Fia Sanchez, said they wanted to hold the event to celebrate Trans Visibility Day, which falls annually on March 31. Sanchez is aware of the recent attack on trans identities through President Donald Trump’s executive orders. Trump has called for the US to recognize only two genders, tried to ban trans athletes from competing in sports, and wants to keep LGBTQ+ friendly practices from entering classroom, according to federalregister.gov. Sanchez wanted to create a space where trans people feel seen and safe.
“We wanted to do something that gives people an opportunity to express their gender and their identity freely and without any kind of restrictions or feeling judged,” said Sanchez, “And an open space for people to feel comfortable in any gender identity.”
This is the first time the LGBTA has held a clothing swap event, and Sanchez credited NYPIRG as the inspiration for holding it. NYPIRG, which runs the free store located in 1433 Ingersoll Hall, is no stranger to helping BC students in need, as they are the largest student advocacy group on campus.
