Be the Glitter: 9 ✨TomboyX Co-Founder Fran Dunaway: 5 Ways We’re Fighting Back Against Trans Erasure
👕 "We're not going anywhere. We're here to conquer."
Meet Fran Dunaway, co-founder of TomboyX - the LGBTQ+ owned underwear and apparel company that started in a one-car garage and became a symbol of resistance, representation, and damn fine underwear for ALL bodies.
In this powerful conversation, Fran opens up about coming out at 21, becoming an activist when the world wasn't as welcoming as she hoped, and building a B Corp that puts community and sustainability before profits. She also shares the shocking story of receiving an FDA warning letter, why TomboyX walked away from Target, and how joy itself becomes resistance.
🌼 This episode is sponsored by New Valley Labs, where founders bloom. 🌼 https://www.newvalleylabs.com/ [https://www.newvalleylabs.com/]
5 Ways TomboyX Is Fighting Back Against Trans Erasure:
1️⃣ Refusing to bow to FDA fear-mongering - After receiving a warning letter targeting chest binders, they made compliance changes but launched Compression Top 2.0 anyway
2️⃣ Walking away from Target's millions - When Target quietly pulled trans products from their website, TomboyX pulled ALL their products rather than compromise values
3️⃣ Saying NO to big box stores - Actively turning down lucrative partnerships with companies that don't share their values, even when it hurts the bottom line
4️⃣ Centering trans voices in product development - Working directly with trans community members when designing trans-adaptive clothing and compression tops
5️⃣ Showing up visibly and vocally - Attending Trans Day of Visibility, making monthly donations to LGBTQ+ orgs, and refusing to be silent or disappear
You'll Also Hear About: ✨ Fran's coming-out story at 21 and immediate dive into activism ✨ The Kickstarter campaign that revealed a massive market gap ✨ Why they pivoted from button-ups to underwear (customers asked!) ✨ Building a team that's 40% LGBTQ+ and 75% queer leadership ✨ Why TomboyX refuses to charge more for extended sizes ✨ How to stay resilient when corporations betray your community ✨ Why "surviving in this political climate is a royal fuck you"
TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 - Welcome & Introductions 03:15 - Fran's Coming Out Story at 21 06:40 - Becoming an Activist & Video Producer 10:25 - The TomboyX Origin Story: From Garage to Revolution 15:30 - The Kickstarter That Changed Everything 18:45 - "We're Getting Requests for Underwear for Women" 22:10 - Representation Matters: Real Bodies, No Photoshop 26:35 - The B Corp Commitment & Values-First Business 31:20 - THE FDA WARNING LETTER: What Really Happened 37:45 - Target's Betrayal & Why TomboyX Walked Away 42:50 - Extended Sizing Without the Upcharge 46:30 - Working WITH Trans Community on Product Development 51:15 - How to Stay Resilient Through Disappointment 55:40 - Advice for Allies: Vote With Your Dollars 58:20 - Trans Day of Visibility & How to Help 01:00:45 - Gratitude & Final Thoughts
ABOUT FRAN DUNAWAY & TOMBOYX: Fran Dunaway (she/her) is the co-founder of TomboyX, an LGBTQ+ owned B Corporation creating quality underwear and apparel for all bodies. What started as a passion project in a one-car garage has become a beacon of representation, sustainability, and resistance. TomboyX refuses to compromise on values - they use eco-certified fabrics, pay living wages, donate excess inventory to community organizations, and put people before profits. With a team that's 40% LGBTQ+ and 75% queer leadership, TomboyX isn't just making underwear - they're making a statement.
🔗 Shop TomboyX & Support LGBTQ+ Business: 🏳️🌈 Website: https://tomboyx.com [https://tomboyx.com/] 📱 Follow TomboyX: https://www.instagram.com/tomboyx/ 🌈 Trans Day of Visibility Event Info: https://christopherstreetproject.org/tdov/
ABOUT BE THE GLITTER PODCAST: Be the Glitter is where we talk about tough topics with giggles and leave inspiration that sticks. Hosted by Laura Paisley Beck (Wa'am of Wa'am Writes), this podcast celebrates authentic voices, challenges societal norms, and creates tsunamis of positive social change - one conversation at a time! ✨
Co-hosted in this episode by Jo Green, proud out member of the LGBTQ+ community and previous Be the Glitter guest. https://www.linkedin.com/in/josephinegreene/
💫 Subscribe & Share the Glitter! New episodes when inspiration strikes. Subscribe so you never miss a conversation that matters.
🔗 More About Be the Glitter: 🌟 Linktree: https://linktr.ee/waamwrites [https://linktr.ee/waamwrites]
MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
* Target's 2023 Pride collaboration (and 2024 betrayal)
* FDA warning letters to 12 LGBTQ+ companies
* Trans Day of Visibility (Washington, DC - late March)
* B Corp Certification & Benefit Corporation status
* The importance of eco-certified fabrics & living wages
SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ON TRANSGENDER IDENTITY: As mentioned in the podcast, there is significant scientific evidence that being transgender is natural and has biological roots:
📊 Hudson Institute Study (2019) - World's largest study of 380 transgender women found genetic variations in genes that process sex hormones, suggesting a biological basis for gender identity https://hudson.org.au/news/written-in-dna-study-reveals-potential-biological-basis-for-transgender/ [https://hudson.org.au/news/written-in-dna-study-reveals-potential-biological-basis-for-transgender/]
📊 Medical College of Georgia Study (2019) - Identified 21 variants in 19 genes in estrogen signaling pathways critical to brain development and gender identity https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200205084203.htm [https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/02/200205084203.htm]
📊 Twin Studies - Found 33% of identical twins were both transgender vs. only 2.6% of non-identical twins, providing strong evidence of genetic influence
📊 Comprehensive Scientific Review (2015) - First comprehensive review of scientific evidence showing gender identity is a biological phenomenon https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/02/150213112317.htm [https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/02/150213112317.htm]
Transgender people have existed in every culture throughout human history. This is natural, normal, and scientifically documented.
KEY QUOTES: 💬 "I don't like to be dishonest, and it felt dishonest to not just be who I am." 💬 "Joy is resistance." 💬 "If you're not in with inclusivity, you're just out of touch." 💬 "We're not gonna compromise on our values just for a dollar." 💬 "Surviving in this environment is a royal fuck you to what's going on." 💬 "We're not going anywhere. We're here to conquer."
KEY TOPICS: LGBTQ+ business, TomboyX, transgender rights, chest binders, FDA targeting, inclusive fashion, extended sizing, B Corp, sustainable fashion, LGBTQ+ activism, Target boycott, trans visibility, queer entrepreneurship, gender-affirming clothing, body positivity, ethical fashion, corporate values, resisting erasure
Music:
For Episode: Music provided by Chillhop Music Emperose, Selvi Hanna - Selamat Djalan https://chll.to/64af3d72 [https://chll.to/64af3d72]
For New Valley Labs Ad: Music provided by Chillhop Music Venuz Beats, Bao - Circles https://chll.to/8af1d579
#TomboyX #LGBTQBusiness #TransRights #InclusiveFashion #BCorp #QueerEntrepreneur #TransVisibility #BodyPositivity #SustainableFashion #BeTheGlitter #ResistErasure #ChestBinders #FDAOverreach #TargetBoycott #PrideAllYear #TransJoy #QueerJoy #EthicalFashion #GenderAffirmingCare #AllBodiesAreGoodBodies #ValuesOverProfits #LGBTQActivism #ExtendedSizing #SizeInclusive #QueerOwned
💬 What resonated with you most? How do YOU vote with your dollars? Drop a comment below!
👍 If Fran's resilience inspired you, give this a 5 star rating and share it with someone who needs to hear this message of resistance and hope!
