Trans People Belong Here

Hello all!

Here we are in March, several days past The Ides of March. Things are going well over at the shop and we are tickled that so many have come to find our little hole in the wall/strip mall such a welcoming, cozy space.

Very casual photo of some friends modeling off our new tea partner Metolius Artisanal Tea’s products

Since the last post I wrote, trans and non-binary folks in Iowa have lost civil rights.

Which is just about as wtf?!!?! sounding as presenting an assortment of edible appetizers on a plate to someone and then saying it’s not all food when that person can clearly sense it’s all food. Or like giving someone a memoir with an entire chapter ripped out from it and expecting that person to not care and absorb it as if the chapter were forgotten from the start. Pretending someone isn’t there when they are, and then ignoring that inarguable fact and gaslighting the hell out of everyone in the meantime, giving fertile ground to sanctioned violence. It’s so cruel and none of my words can accurately describe the mind bending insanity of the government in our state. But it’s very real and the people this affects are hurting extraordinarily. It’s so fucking important to be loud about supporting this community right now.

Ok, terrible analogies, but makes as little sense to the human heart and mind, actually all senses, as pronouncing a human being they aren’t eligible for the civil rights of which every human being, by proxy of being an established, living and breathing human being, rightfully deserves. Ridiculous to even write that sentence and probably decipher but I know you all get it.

We, here, recognize the shared humanity in all people and one zillionth percent reject the assumption that an entire segment of society can so swiftly be discarded in the eyes of the law. All are welcome at our coffee shop. Unless you are harassing us or one of our customers. We want to keep our space welcoming to all, but also safe! Fortunately, we have had zero issues with anybody being anything other than sweet to us and them to the general public congregating in our shop. My favorite thing ever is when people run into each other here or make new friends here. I know we’re still new, but I’m definitely privy to several friendships that were sprouted here.

SO! We have been encouraging our customers to donate to the Iowa Trans Mutual Aid Fund, who do critical, important work in helping increase access to gender affirming care in Iowa. There is a jar at our shop that customers can put dollar bills in for the ITMAF, of which we send donations over weekly. One of our friends also donated a bunch of beautiful, handmade crochet plant holders to sell at the shop with 75% of the proceeds going to the ITMAF. They are $25 and come with a little pot, of varying materials, inside. So far we have collectively raised just under $340 for ITMAF!

We have free “Trans People Belong Here” prints that were printed by Public Space One Press Co-op in Iowa City. A few are hung up in our shop (all different colors, why choose? so I hung them all) and there is a stack, which is getting smaller, of prints that people can take home with them.

Next month, on April 19th we are hosting a gender affirming clothing exchange, Rainbow Recycle, in collaboration with our new friend Mazzy! Flyer below, which they also made. This is the first of we think more Rainbow Recycles, aligning with the changing seasons and presenting to you a convenient opportunity to refresh your closet.

All unclaimed items will be donated to the following queer resource organization for the Des Moines community, Common Love DSM. Which we love! There will be separate masc + femme presenting areas for the clothes. We are really excited to be able to offer up our space for a great cause! Bring something, take something, do both, do one of the other, or neither and just come and enjoy the music, have some coffee and snacks and hang out a bit! Our friend Susie aka Sloppy Doozer will also be curating the music selections for the event, so please feel free to dance around as much as you want.

Considering your closet in a sustainable fashion is fashion, folks! You know the feeling when you wear something for the first time and just so tickled by how perfect it suits you and like the outfit somehow radiates joy all the way to your bone marrow and you’re like so happy you can’t imagine never wearing it every week at least three times? And then years later you’re like, wow I guess this isn’t me anymore goodbyyyeee…Or maybe it didn’t make it that far up the totem pole of your wardrobe but it’s just something you don’t wear anymore and your dresser/closet is like bulging from things you all the sudden stopped wearing. (I’m actually talking to myself here lol). GIVE THEM A NEW HOME! Let’s help folks have greater access to clothes that suit and scream them, shall we?

We hope to see you there!!!