Seattle Public Schools requested “gender-affirming supplies” such as chest binders, Transtape, nipple guards, and tucking underwear from Seattle Children’s Hospital for the district’s “Community Health Lockers

  • Seattle Public Schools - Washington

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A Freedom of Information Act request reveals that in March 2025, Seattle Public Schools’ (SPS) staff requested “gender-affirming supplies” from Seattle Children’s Hospital staff for district “Community Health Lockers.”

According to the documents, the SPS Health Education Office coordinated with the the Garfield [High School] Teen Health Center staff (operated by the Seattle Children’s Hospital’s Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic) for “gender-affirming supplies” such as “[chest] Binders,” “Transtape,” “(Transtape) Repair salve,” “(Transtape) Removal oil,” “(Transtape) Nipple guards,” and “Tucking underwear.”

Per the email, the “Community Health Locker project” was “grant-funded,” but had been “pushed back a bit as our office has been busy navigating some of the federal changes affecting LGBTQ+ communities.”

A high school student’s LinkedIn profile states that they were a “SPS (Seattle Public Schools) Community Health Locker Advocate,” and writes that the initiative was “done to expand access to gender-affirming products for gender-diverse students.” The health lockers “throughout SPS middle and high schools include chest binders, condoms, and makeup for free!” She post concludes by stating that it “helped inform over 25,000 SPS students receiving a secondary-level education, and (hopefully) many SPS students to come.”

2025_WA_Seattle Public Schools_Seattle Children’s Hospital_’Gender affirming care’Download

A November 25, 2024, email from the district Health Education Office to “counselors, nurses, club advisors, and other supporters of our queer students and families” states the “holiday season can be a challenge for our LGBTQ+ students, and we frequently see an uptick in mental health crises and suicidal ideation during this time.” It continues: “Queer and trans youth with non-accepting families, or who depend on schools for basic necessities, are most at risk.”

The email includes links to resources that staff and faculty can “pass along to your LGBTQ+ students who many be struggling, or share about through school-based communication channels.” Notable resources include the Trevor Project and it’s Trans Lifeline service, and “safe places” such as select community organizations.

The email concludes by stating that “Holidays are hard for everyone, but they can be especially hard for queer and trans folks. Remember that this time won’t last forever, and that there is a huge community waiting on the ot her side-people who will love you just as you are.”