Digital Transgender Archive

Wearable History

The Sexual Minorities Archives Buttons and Clothing Collection offers a small glimpse of trans history and activism through wearable items. This collection is a tiny portion of a larger selection of LGBTI related buttons and clothing housed at the Sexual Minorities Archives (SMA). Located in Holyoke, MA, The Sexual Minorities Archives is a bright pink Vicrotorian home that houses a vast collection of LGBTI literature, historical documents, media, and artifacts.

The buttons and clothing depict a variety of trans-related symbols and organizations including the Trans Activist Network. Many of the artifacts have activist themes, presumably worn at marches or other events. These items address a variety of themes, including transphobia, relationships, discrimination, and living a full life. The DTA was excited to find interesting transgender related buttons and clothing among the other political and social LGBTI buttons at the SMA. One particularly interesting item in the collection, unlike any of the other artifacts, is a chest binder. This would have been used to reduce the appearance of having breasts, most likely for trans men.