The Gender, Sex, & Sexuality Resource Center (GSSRC) at Hamline University, as well as UnderDARE, a brick-and-mortar store for gender affirming undergarments, collaborated last Thursday to host a pop-up in Bush Hub. This pop-up offered a wide range of gender affirming undergarments, such as binders and breast inserts, for students to purchase and explore in a safe environment.

This collaboration was inspired by the consistent need for gender-affirming supplies on campus, as well as Trans Day of Visibility that happened on March 31.

“I met Eli Scriver last fall and we discussed UnderDARE collaborating with HUGSSRC for Trans Day of Visibility,“Marcy Darling, founder of UnderDARE, said over email.

“We have previously provided a small supply of free gender-affirming items like binders, tape, packers, breast inserts, and gaffing underwear for students in the GSSRC using a donation model and as prizes for trans-focused events on campus. It has continually been requested by students and we have been searching for ways to make these resources more accessible. We have a very large LGBTQIA+ population on campus, including many trans and gender-non-conforming students,” Eli Scriver, Coordinator of Gender + Sexualities Student Program, said over email.

UnderDARE has allowed the Center to do just that – to expand upon the resources they are able to offer LGBTQIA+ students and to grow in how they make these resources more accessible.

UnderDARE is proudly the first brick and mortar shopping experience that specializes exclusively in gender affirming undergarments in the Twin Cities. However, it also presents itself as a place where gender non-conforming people can try on and purchase garments that they feel align with their identity. UnderDARE is appointment only, and promises a safe space for all looking to shop.

Scriver and Darling met through the Center’s various connections interwoven throughout the Twin Cities.

“We were introduced to underDARE through our partnerships with Family Tree Clinic and Smitten Kitten when exploring new ways to make gender-affirming items more accessible and affordable for students. UnderDARE was excited to work with us to try a new pop-up shop model,” Scriver said over email.

This pop-up model is not one and done for UnderDARE, however, as they are now aiming to do at least two pop-ups a month and host other events as well.

“Arc Value Village has a gender affirming shopping night once a quarter at one of their three locations, UnderDARE pops-up at those, UnderDARE does several resource fairs, including Transforming Families Day of the Transgender Child, big Pride last year, question and answer sessions with teen GSA groups,” Darling said over email.

Presenting their crucial services in other locations, such as branching out to Hamline, allows for visibility of UnderDARE’s important resources. This allows them to provide more individuals with gender-affirming services, and lets the organization continue to grow in its mission.

“Getting the word out that Underdare is out here and a great resource for the community is why doing events is so important — it gets Underdare in front of a larger audience quickly[.] We’re still finding that Underdare is still relatively unknown, but the longer we’re around and the more people we reach, the more we can serve.” Darling said over email.

The start of UnderDARE was the need for gender-affirming garments within Darling’s own family, and has inspired her to take the Twin Cities by storm with her passion for providing gender-affirming clothing.

“Founder Marcy Darling has a transgender son who needed a binder, and online shopping was a nightmare, so with her experience in business and a healthy dose of ‘I can do that,’ mixed with unlimited optimism, and limited fear of failure, she made an in-person store happen.” Darling said over email.

With the success of this event, and the need for gender-affirming products being extremely prevalent at Hamline, the Center and underDARE say another collaboration is a possibility in the future.

“We do hope to bring UnderDARE to campus in the future for similar events.” said Scriver over email.

Students having their needs met has always been prioritized by the Center, and having collaborations with organizations that share that same sentiment leads to more individuals getting the resources they need.

“Creating an open, welcoming, supportive space for those students is important to us, and allows students to engage more wholly as scholars when their needs are offset by providing resources directly through our offices,” Scriver said over email.

The feedback on this event has been outstandingly positive at Hamline, with students appreciating the resources the Center and organizations like UnderDARE provide for themselves and the people on campus.

“Events like these are important for students to get the resources they need, especially having the convenience of it being on campus.” first-year attendee Haley Erickson said
Overall, individuals getting access to the gender-affirming care they need is nothing short of important and valued within the Hamline community. Supporting and welcoming organizations into the Hamline community and the vibrant Twin Cities area in general creates a more secure environment for all, and allows people to live comfortably as themselves.

Interested in continuing to support initiatives such as this event? UnderDARE welcomes support for their project.

“Underdare operates as a for-profit social enterprise. Our commitment is to the 2SLGBTQ+ community, no matter what their financial situation. We accept monetary donations directly at our point of sale or our donation site, www.chuffed.org/project/underdare, and although we cannot offer a tax deductible receipt, all funds go towards our sliding price scale and garment donations program,” Darling said over email.