When Rose Trevis visited Hawleywood’s Barber Shop & Shaving Parlor in Long Beach, California, for a haircut, he was allegedly told “we don’t cut women’s hair” and denied a haircut in 2016. A lawsuit followed and eventual settlement for the barber shop to stop their discriminatory practice against the trans community.
This incident, among others, helped spark Strands for Trans, a public awareness campaign where a network of 7,500 trans-friendly barber shops and hair salons around the world stand up with the trans community.
Across every US state, to Canada, Mexico, the UK, Europe, and Australia, it’s co-founded by hairdresser Xavier Cruz, who co-owns the Barba Salon in New York City with JP Gomez, who is the creative director of advertising firm, Terri & Sandi. “Five years later we are still having this conversation, things are not progressing,” said Cruz.
“There were a lot of news headlines about trans people being rejected from barbershops,” said Gomez. Today, it’s supported by boldface fashion designers like Marc Jacobs, JVN and Balmain. “We wanted to do something about it,” said Cruz.
They’re hosting a virtual event today called Gender Europhoria: A Global Celebration, which claims to be the first-ever VR event to celebrate transgender rights. Co-presented with Phluid City, a gender neutral clothing brand, it will feature appearances from Grammy Award-winning actor and musician Billy Porter, DJ Lina Bradford and Chella Man, and the event is fundraising for the launch of the Strands for Trans nonprofit organization.
It’s held symbolically a day before International Transgender Day of Visibility, which is tomorrow. Haircuts are historically gendered, and salons have been typically for women, while barbershops are typically for men. This divide has left the trans community feeling uneasy, so Strands For Trans helps bring together the world together to create more trans-friendly barbershops and hair salons.
It all started with their barbershop, the Barba Salon in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York City in 2017. “We started calling our friends in the hair community and asked them to join,” said Gomez.
Jacobs showed his support by dying a part of his hair the colors of the trans flag (pink, white and blue). “In less than two weeks, we were in every single state,” said Gomez. “We do it every for every Pride Month, we donate our time and color for those who want to show solidarity with the trans community.”
Last year was a milestone year for the community, as they received over 4,000 sign ups from salons and barber shops globally. “The beauty industry is willing to do the work, we have to give them the education and tools how to be affirming and safe,” said Cruz.
The Strands for Trans website has an interactive map that shows trans-friendly salons and barbershops, from Alaska to Texas. After a hair salon or barber shop signs up, they receive a barber pole sticker with the trans flag on it, to let the trans community know they are welcome.
“We’re hosting this event because the trans community needs to be uplifted,” said Suarez. “There is the trans community in Tennessee and Florida and countries where they fear for their life. We hope this event will bring light to these dark times.”
Porter, best known for his role on the FX series Pose, is a supporter of the movement. “I know it’s been really difficult; we’re going through a lot right now and I want to say, you are not alone,” said Porter. “To all my trans brothers, sisters, and non-binary people. You are not alone. We are all in this together. None of it is new. I lived through the AIDS crisis, the civil rights movement—although, I wasn’t there for that—but we got through it. Love always wins. I want to remind you all, to fear not, the change has already happened. I love you all.”