Talking Trans Joy & Resistance with Genderbands

The story of the Orem-based nonprofit Genderbands started with a pile of silicon wristbands and a dream. When the founder of Genderbands, Ian Giles, began planning for their own top surgery, they needed to find a way to raise money that wouldn’t break the bank. “I only had maybe $50 that I felt like I could spare,” Giles says. “And that’s when I found some silicone wristbands.”

“I had a lot of support, and I was like, this could actually continue. And I [knew I wasn’t] the only one who needs help.”

So Giles set out with hand-decorated bands with slogans like “Pizza Rolls Not Gender Roles.” Selling the original “Gender Bands” wasn’t the money maker Giles hoped it would be, prompting them to visit their first Pride event with their bands. While there, they were overwhelmed by the love and support of the Utah queer community. After struggling to pay for their own surgery, Giles wanted to help make the process easier for others. “I had a lot of support, and I was like, this could actually continue,” Giles says. “And I [knew I wasn’t] the only one who needs help.”

And with that, Genderbands as we know it today was born. Genderbands offers a variety of grants to help trans and nonbinary people transition. These can range from helping pay for gender-affirming voice training to covering travel costs associated with accessing surgery.

Genderbands not only offers these grants to people living in Utah, but also to trans people anywhere in North America. Receiving gender-affirming care in the United States is often a long, frustrating process. Oftentimes, insurance won’t cover lifesaving care. With the help of the grants Giles and their organization offers, trans people can receive the life-changing care they may not otherwise be able to access.

“This is a community [organization] that’s run by two part-time workers and a handful of volunteers.”

Grants aren’t the only thing Genderbands offers. In addition to a gender-affirming closet, Genderbands also throws a yearly Trans Pride-N-Joy Festival every August to celebrate trans and nonbinary people. “The vendors are trans; the entertainers are trans. We have lots of trans resources and freebies, and then we also put a big focus on accessibility,” Giles says.

The event is a space for allies and trans people to get together and celebrate a vibrant community. “Right now, trans people are the center of attention in a very, very negative way,” Giles says. “So at the Trans Pride-N-Joy Fest, people can go and be surrounded by their community. They can be surrounded by their allies, and they can see people celebrating their existence. And I think that’s very powerful.”

Genderbands’ 10 year anniversary is bittersweet. The recent surge of anti-trans sentiment and legislation nationwide has left many potential sponsors for Genderbands hesitant to continue their support out of fear of retribution from the Trump administration. Although the future is uncertain, Genderbands will continue to uplift and support the trans community in any way it can.

“Right now, trans people are the center of attention in a very, very negative way.”

To keep the mission of the organization going, community support of Genderbands is more important than ever. We need volunteers and donations to continue uplifting the trans community in Utah and beyond. “This is a community [organization] that’s run by two part-time workers and a handful of volunteers,” Giles says. “We really need the hands.”

If you would like to volunteer with or donate to Genderbands, visit genderbands.org to get all the latest news on events and opportunities. You can also find information on their Instagram @genderbands. The Trans Pride-N-Joy Fest will take place in Salt Lake City on August 9. To keep up with the latest news and information surrounding the event, follow their Instagram: @transpridenjoyfest.

Read more SLUG coverage of the LGBTQ+ community:
Bold & Beautiful: Kolumbia Monroe
Shannon Beveridge’s exes and o’s hits Salt Lake City