Manhood: Puberty, Packing, and Passing
Letter to David, 8/4/1981
Passing
Missing childhood social training about how to be men, transmen have to learn not only how live, act and feel like men. Lou Sullivan's transformed the Golden Gate Girls/Guys Newsletter so that it would help trans individuals learn how dress, speak and pass in society.
Through mentoring, FTM individuals in San Francisco have not only found ways to teach each other to pass, they also help brothers who cannot afford binders or to pack to pass in society.
A yogurt lid would not cause anyone to ask questions if they found it in your pocket. But when folded it can be used to help a transman to urinate standing up.
Below is a binder from the binder exchange. After transmen get their top surgery, they share the binders that they no longer need with their brothers who may not be able to afford them or who want to try them on in order to find the right fit and size. Since binders are typically only available through mail order, it is difficult for transmen to find the right binder.
