LGBTQ youth now have a place in downtown Evansville to find clothes, accessories and hygiene products that feel right.
When Signature School junior Nick Johnson received his first piece of masculine clothing, he wore it every day.
"[It was] this giant, thick black hoodie with the John Deere logo in front," he says. "Having the right clothing for your gender identity/presentation can be an incredibly validating experience."
When Johnson heard friends talking about having trouble shopping for clothes that matched their gender identities, he rounded up a few of them.
They got to work on The Rainbow Jacket Project, Evansville’s new clothing bank and validating space for trans, queer, and gender non-conforming young people.
"I thought you know it can’t just be this one person,” Johnson says. “There’s probably a bunch of people who are in the same situation."
After Saturday’s grand opening in the annex of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, the project directors are seeking more adult volunteers and determining future hours of operation.
For more information, The Rainbow Jacket Project can be found on Facebook and Instagram.