Audrey Wheeler

Contributing Writer

Alpha Phi Omega at Florida State University has taken the initiative to provide binders for transgender female-to-male individuals (FTM) and other non-binary people. Their project, started under the Fred Heismeyer Pledge Class of Fall 2016, seeks to fundraise and purchase binders at no cost to people transitioning. A binder is a tight tank top that suppresses and flattens breast tissue to create the appearance of a flat chest for trans and non-binary people.

Charlie Andelman, a junior majoring in Creative Writing and a trans man himself, initially began the project after mentioning it at a pledge class meeting. The proposal was successfully voted to be the class’ overall pledge project because of the strong power in the impact among transgender individuals.

“I really want to make it more possible for [people] to have access,” says Andelman. Since top surgery (a procedure to remove the breasts) is incredibly expensive, many trans individuals need the investment of a quality binder until surgery becomes a viable option.

“Binders can get really expensive. People who either can’t afford them or their parents aren’t supportive and they have to keep it a secret, sometimes they’ll turn to more dangerous methods of binding,” Andelman says.

Wrapping with ACE bandages, or even using tape, are two popular but physically damaging alternatives using a binder. ACE bandages are not built to stretch properly with the body which leads to back and chest pain, and tape, although customizable, tears at the skin when removed.

“When you don’t have access to actual binders that are designed for a specific purpose, people tend to take riskier actions to achieve what they need to achieve for themselves,” Andelman says. By creating financial access to binders, the service fraternity is able to remove some of the barriers associated with transitioning.

Overall, Alpha Phi Omega has been overwhelmed by the amount of outreach and support given by other organizations or even total strangers. The Center for Leadership & Social Change is pushing the initiative, and both the FSU Pride Student Union and Transgender Tallahassee (a local transgender organization) are in discussions of partnerships.

Through both table fundraising at Oglesby Student Union every Monday and direct donations on Venmo, Alpha Phi Omega has raised nearly $400 since the start of the project. One person has already received their binder, another is waiting for their delivery and two new orders have been placed.

With Andelman leading the project but graduating within the next year, his desire is that another brother will head the project when he leaves.

“After I graduate I would hope that the project has proven itself useful enough to be continued,” he explains.

“I would love to spread it as far as possible because FSU is clearly not the only place where this could help people.”