We've been informed that Shopify has reversed its decision and unfrozen our payments, so we are once again able to accept card purchases. No explanations from them, but on a hunch: if you sent them a letter on our behalf, we are doubly grateful. Thank you.

As we get back to our actual work of making great chest binders, we want to reaffirm that we're here for you and for our whole community, just like you've been here for us. We couldn't do this without your support.

Hi everybody. Eli here.

Here's that second part of the post I promised.

On December 19th, the day after signing that sale contract, we received word that the FDA had sent Shapeshifters a letter, and sent similar letters to eleven other companies that sell chest binders. The gist: they allege that chest binders are medical devices, and are subject to a large host of regulations. The FDA Commissioner also made a series of statements at the same time, which appeared to target the same set of companies, but did not align with anything said in the letters. (Source)

And of course: not every shapewear company received a letter like this. Underworks is absent from the list of recipients. So is Spanx. So is any company that sells compression shirts, rash guards, or sports bras. 

The target is clear. In all posted letters, any phrase that contains the word “dysphoria” is cited. In one case, “gender euphoria” is cited (source). If you use these words, you’re in violation. If you sell binders for cis men, you’re not.

This is a targeted action against transgender folks, just like every other targeted action against transgender folks that this administration takes. No-one we have consulted has been surprised, only grim. The only real option available to us is to respond within the system, with professional help, in expensive and stressful ways.

On top of all this, Shopify, the current store platform, just disabled its built-in payment processor because we have been anonymously flagged as “predatory or deceptive” by anonymous “banking partners” whose decision is final. If you’d like to let Shopify know what you think of them cutting off the income of trans people without process or recourse, I suggest sending a message to the “Trust and Safety” team at [email protected]. To be clear, this will probably have no effect.

A lot of really kind and wonderful folks have reached out to ask how they can help. So we set up a legal fund to defray some of the costs of responding to the FDA while the store income is down, and that is here: https://gofund.me/4dd707af7

All proceeds of this fundraiser will go to covering legal costs of responding to the FDA. If we exceed the goal, the excess will cover lost business income from Shopify cutting off credit card processing.

Bryce and Gwen are doing an incredible job of getting up to speed on all the regular operations of Shapeshifters amidst all of this shit, and I could not be prouder or more impressed by how they've taken the helm. I cannot wait to see how they run Shapeshifters when given a damn minute to breathe. Thank you all for your support in helping them get there.

All my love,

HOW TO TURN OFF GOOGLE AI in GMAIL:

Open Gmail in your browser

Click on the Gear Icon ⚙️ in the upper right

In the General Tab, scroll down to "Smart Features" and UNCHECK THE BOX. It is about halfway down.

Then, right below that is Google Workspace smart features. Click on the "Manage Workspace Smart Features" and make sure both toggles are OFF

Hypoestrogenism flag

( This is part of a larger series of Intersex Hyperhormonal and Hypohormonal flags )

Paralleling my Hypoandrogenism flag's layout, and referencing my Hyperestrogenism flag. A dark blue is used for the symbol instead of red ( hypo- vs. hyper- ), and the teal and purple are swapped.

( I didn't totally change the colors because I wanted it to clearly fit in with it's sibling flags and with other intersex flags. )

The purple is still used as a reference to the Morgan Carpenter Intersex flag and to include those of all identities with Hypoestrogenism! Just like with the other flags, the symbol is made with totally free images from Wikimedia! Here's the transparent version :

Everything in this post is free for use anywhere by anyone! All I ask is that perisex folk please be respectful.

Hypoandrogenism flag

( This is part of a larger series of Intersex Hyperhormonal and Hypohormonal flags )

Because I wanted this to follow the format of the other flags, the Hypoandrogenism flag has a reversed color scheme to my Hyperandrogenism flag. A dark blue is used for the symbol instead of red ( hypo- vs. hyper- ), and the orange and purple are swapped.

( I didn't totally change the colors because I wanted it to clearly fit in with it's sibling flags and with other intersex flags. )

The purple is still used as a reference to the Morgan Carpenter Intersex flag and to include those of all identities with Hypoandrogenism! Just like with the other flags, the symbol is made with totally free images from Wikimedia! Here's the transparent version :

Everything in this post is free for use anywhere by anyone! All I ask is that perisex folk please be respectful.

Hyperestrogenism flag

( This is part of a larger series of Intersex Hyperhormonal and Hypohormonal flags )

A Hyperestrogenism flag already exists ( credited to LGBTA wiki user Reign of the breadsticcs ), but I wanted to make one which was more visually distinct from the first existing Hyperandrogenism flag and which carried over the meanings / inclusivity from my Unified Hyperandrogenism flag.

Each element / color / meaning is parallel to my Hyperandrogenism flag- as both are Hyperhormonal variations- but with the symbol including the Estrogen molecule and using teal instead of orange for both contrast and readability ( I want them to clearly be sibling flags but with their own distinct flair! )

This symbol was made with entirely free ( and copyright free ) parts from Wikimedia! Here's an isolated version :

These are free to be use anywhere by anyone. I just ask that perisex people please be respectful.

Unified Hyperandrogenism flag

This is part of a larger series of Intersex Hyperhormonal and Hypohormonal flags, but I wanted to create a unified Hyperandrogenism flag first!

The first one used pink as the top stripe, while this second alternative flag used a blue stripe ( for those with more masculine identities. )

Mine uses purple because it's a color which is a combination of pink and red while also being distinct. It can include those with all identities- even those who are not Masc / Fem! Purple is also present on the most commonly used Intersex flag ( made by Morgan Carpenter ) so I thought it was very fitting!

My hope it that this can be a flag which everyone with Hyperandrogenism can be comfortable using as an umbrella symbol- regardless of your personal relationship to Masculinity / Femininity or identity!

I've remade the symbol because I couldn't find a super high quality image of the previous symbol and I was a little worried about copyright. This one is made with totally free components from Wikimedia! Here's the transparent version:

Everything in this post is free for use anywhere by anyone! All I ask is that perisex folk please be respectful.

And now, everyone is panicking.

Which really shows.

These past three or four days, multiple countries have reached the threshold. Even more notably, the number of signatures in total, the ones that we need to get one million of, are growing rapidly. There are only 400'000 signatures missing. Two days ago, it was closer to 600'000.

You can see the progress here:

fiveforfive - collective fund for trans women and girls and transfem causes

gendered intelligence - trans led advocacy org

mermaids - supports trans youth

akt - lgbtq youth homelessness charity

loving me - domestic abuse service for trans people in england

It would be a great help if you were to take this 14 question survey about the sorts of terminology you prefer!

Disabled Queer Flags - Part 1

Gay, Bi, Lesbian, Aro, Pan, Ace, Trans, Nonbinary, & Genderqueer

Flags for disabled peeps who want to show their pride!

Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5

(credits to @distinct-disability-flags for the desing, not to me).

Another day, another crisis that we hope will be hilarious in comic-form one day: our ceiling collapsed today! Twice!

No kidding. Part of our bedroom and living room ceilings collapsed and the rest of the roof on that entire side of the building is sagging, so we're a LITTLE terrified we're going to be hurt or generally covered in plaster.

We need to budget for a hotel while we're getting the landlord to fix this (and maybe let us temporarily stay somewhere else [and doubly-hopefully not kick us out before we have someplace to stay.]) So! Any assistance would be highly appreciated while we're figuring out where we land. I was just excited to have Rx money earlier today, haha!

Thank you so much in advance, we'll keep everyone posted!

PayPal.me/FindChaos

Venmo $FindChaos