The Lavender Cabinet
The Lavender Cabinet is a collection of free resources open to all students and available in the Pride Resource Center. The Lav Cab provides access to basic needs such as personal hygiene, harm-reduction, period, sexual health, first-aid, and gender-affirming products, as well as tools for exploring identity and taking care of our bodies and homes.
This collection is open to all and available for free in the Pride Resource Center (LSC 232).
The Lav Cab is an initiative supported by collaboration of the Pride Resource Center, the Survivor Advocacy and Foundational Education Center, and ASCSU.
What is Available?
The following items are available throughout the year. We can’t guarantee certain items and sizes will be in stock consistently. For updates, visit the center.
- Gender Affirming Garments
- Chest Binders
- Bras & Bra Inserts
- Compression Gaffs
- Trans Tape
- Tucking Kits
- Packing Underwear
- Personal Hygiene Items
- Soap
- Toothbrushes/toothpaste
- Razors/shaving cream
- Deodorant
- Hair care
- Period Products
- Menstrual Cups
- Tampons
- Pads
- First Aid Items
- Band-Aids
- Alcohol Wipes
- Sharps Containers
- Identity Exploration Tools
- Books
- Make-Up
- Resources
- Sexual Health
- Condoms
- Dental Dams
- Lube
- Pregnancy Tests
- Harm Reduction
- Fentanyl Test Strips
- Narcan
- Self-harm reduction
- Pain stimming toys
Do we take donations?
Yes! We accept the following:
- New and gently used chest binders
- New and gently used bra inserts
- New and gently used bras
- New or used & clearly labeled Trans Tape
- New underwear & other undergarments (NEW ONLY)
- Unopened/unused hygiene products, make-up, first-aid items, and period products.
We do not accept:
- Previously used items that are worn below the waist (e.g. underwear, gaffs, packers, STPs, etc).
- Books
- Opened or used make-up, hygiene, or period products.
- Clothing & shoes.
How do I donate?
Donations can be dropped off at the Pride Resource Center Front Desk (LSC 232). We also recommend calling ahead to see if there are specific items we’re in need of. Please make sure all items are cleaned and clearly labeled with the size and company of original purchase.
Do we accept clothing donations?
The Lavender Cabinet is NOT a clothing closet. Pride hosts a semesterly Clothing Swap in October and around Spring Break, for which we will put out a call for donations. The SAFE Center hosts a free clothing closet in the Student Services Building that is open during regular business hours and takes donations all year. Please call or email us before delivering clothing or shoes.
Financial Donations
If you would like to contribute financially to the Lav Cab, you can donate online to the Pride Resource Center’s Dr. Lisa Phelps Fund!
How do I access the Lavender Cabinet?
All are welcome to visit the Pride Resource Center anytime Monday – Friday, 8 am – 5 pm. Come in, ask our front desk staff to access our Cabinet, find what you need! We do not collect names, ID numbers, or other information. We do our best to support the privacy of our guests. We invite folks to self-report a tally mark for items you have taken from the cabinet.
How often do items get restocked?
We do our best to get new items in monthly, but can’t guarantee a timeline due to production and shipping delays. We share updates when new items are in via our newsletter and social media.
How do I choose gender affirming garments?
We have sizing charts and measuring tape in the center that you can use to help choose your item. Our staff at our front desk are also willing to help talk through the items. We recommend checking out the companies below so you can have an idea of what you’re looking for before coming in.
Questions or Feedback?
Email [email protected]
A binder is a tight undershirt (full tank or half tank) that flattens your chest. This is often used by trans masculine folks or anyone who experiences discomfort/dysphoria with the size of their chest.
We recommend talking to your doctor, reviewing the website for the company of purchase, and following the safety tips below:
- A binder should feel tight – but not so tight that it is painful, very uncomfortable, or difficult to breathe.
- Listen to your body – if it hurts, take a break.
- Limit the amount of time that you wear your binder – you should not wear it for more than 8-10 hours at a time.
- Do not sleep in your binder.
- Avoid binding every day. Take 1-2 days off a week.
- Avoid exercising in your binder.
- Avoid putting on the binder while wet. Swimming is ok, but consider going up a size.
- Do not double-bind.
- Stretch often.
- Do not tape or self bind with duct tape, bandages, or other items that are not explicitly made for chest binding.
Alternatives to binding:
- Sports bra (layering 2 sports bras)
- Go up a size in shirts
- Layer undershirts & outer-layers
- Patterns, dark colors & open button downs/sweaters
- Top surgery
If you notice any skin issues or breathing concerns, we recommend taking a break from binding and consulting with a medical physician.
All of our products are used at the risk of the user.
A gaff is a pair of compression underwear that flattens your pelvic region. This is often used by trans feminine folks or anyone who wants to achieve a flatter, more gender affirming look.
We recommend checking in with your doctor and following the safety tips below:
- Make sure the garment you pick is tight and thick enough to provide the flattening you need, but not so tight that it is painful or uncomfortable to wear.
- If you feel pain, stop & take a break.
Alternatives to gaffs:
- Underwear layered with spandex
- Swimsuit bottoms
- Avoid cotton, which tends to stretch
If you notice any skin issues or breathing concerns, we recommend taking a break from these items and consulting with a medical physician.
All of our products are used at the risk of the user.
Some people prefer to tape their chest as another form of binding (to create a more flatter chest) or to use tape to tuck (to create a flatter pelvic area). We source our tape from Trans Tape, a company who makes items specifically for transgender folx who tape their chest or use tape for tucking.
We recommend checking out the Trans Tape’s FAQ page to learn more about how to tape, how long to tape, skin care, and more.
Other companies and brands of tape may cause rashes or skin issues – we strongly recommend looking into companies and making informed decisions about the tape you use. Tape should be specifically made for transgender/gender expansive folx for the best and safest results.
If you notice any skin issues or concerns, we recommend taking a break from taping and consulting with a medical physician.
All of our products are used at the risk of the user.