About:
Everyone deserves to have access to a location where they can receive post and parcels without worrying about any implications. However, not all LGBTQ+ people get this experience. Some live in hostile households where being open about their identity will put them at risk of harm. When LGBTQ+ people do not have a safe postal location, Leicester Students Union wants to be there for you.
By supplying a location on campus where individuals can order LGBT+ related items without anxieties, we hope that people can truly express themselves in a way that they feel comfortable and help relieve some of the struggles and concerns that LGBT+ individuals may face.
We have focused on discrete packaging within some companies which offer gender-affirming products as we understand that this is another area of concern for individuals who don’t want to disclose what they have brought. We have chosen to focus on products including packers and binders as this is something that we believe everyone should be able to access without judgement.
Jade Rowe - LGBTQ+ Officer
Plain Text Rules
1. The LGBTQ+ Safe Postal Service exists for students who want to order LGBTQ+ related items online but do not have a safe postal location.
2. All you need to do is use the Students' Union as the postal address to use the service. That being:
(Your name here)
Leicester Students Union
Percy Gee Building
University of Leicester
University Rd
Leicester
LE1 7RH
3. To inform the Students' Union that you are using the postal service, please email su-voice@leicester.ac.uk. We can then contact you when your delivery has arrived at the office.
4. To collect the post, please come to the Students' Union Office during office working hours (Monday-Friday 9am-5pm) and inform the Voice Team that you have a delivery. Please bring your student card as proof of identity.
5. To avoid doubt, the SU Office consistently has students from societies collecting deliveries to the Students' Union, so you will not be the only students collecting deliveries from the office.
6. The Students' Union is not responsible for any theft or damage of any student property within our premises.
Alternative Postal Services
- Items offered:
- Binders
- Accessories
- Clothing
- Pronoun products
- Boxers and Packers
- Swim shorts with Packing pouch
- Postage:
- If ordering international (outside UK) the customs label is simplified:
- Binders = Vest
- Packers = Foam
- Boxers = Shorts
- If ordering within the UK (Domestic):
- Packaging is unbranded
- Individual items are small enough to be posted through letter box as they qualify the dimensions for a ‘large letter’
- If ordering more than one item then it will be posted in a box and will potentially need signing for – to avoid this, they suggest ordering as separate orders at checkout
- Bank statements:
- Instead of being labelled as ‘Spectrum Outfitters’ it will show as SP*JONES on the bank statement
GC2B (IS AN AMERICAN SITE SO SHIPPING WILL ALSO HAVE TO FACTORED IN but they do offer an international store)
- Items offered:
- Postage:
- Use plain poly-mailers and do not have company name on shipping information- email confirmed it was still discreet
- On domestic orders (US)
- Shipped in standard grey envelopes or USPS Priority Mail envelopes, with no mention of the brand on the outside of the package
XBody
- Items offered:
- Compression vests
- Compression t-shirts
- Chest binders
- Boxers/shorts
- Packaging:
- No current information on packaging
- Email them to find out more sales@xbody.co.uk waiting for email back
Gender Swap
- Specifically aimed at individuals who face barriers in accessing transitional items at a normal cost. Please respect this by not buying if you come from a situation in which you can afford a new one
- It must be noted that most binders are in ‘like new’ condition however some will come with stained or minor flaws/rips/imperfections. This does not alter the function of the binder
- Limit imposed whereby you can only buy 5 binders per year MAX
- UK ONLY
- Items offered
- Binders
- Makeup and skin mystery grab bag
- Packer pouch (with and without hole)
- Packaging:
- All items arrive in a plain/opaque plastic orange envelope
- Sender is marked as ‘GS’ for safety
- Waiting on Leaflets- will be delivered mid March
UK Trans Shop
- Items offered:
- Binders
- Enamel Pins
- Packing Pouches
- Pride Flags/socks/candles/stickers
- T-shirts
- Packaging:
- Parcel is unbranded and in plain packaging
- No mention of Trans Shop UK on the outside of the packaging
MORF Binder scheme
- MUST be noted that this is not a shop and aims to help those who cannot afford binders
- Items offered
- Binders for Free (only pay for postage)
- Packaging:
- Nothing is on the envelopes which relates to binders or MORF
- Can also donate binders to this organisation!
Outplay (American and is on the more expensive side)
- Items offered:
- Sportswear:
- Sport bras
- Tops and T-shirts
- Sweaters and Hoodies
- Leggings and Trousers
- Swimwear:
- Full Coverage Tops
- Mid-Drift Tops
- Rash guards
- Bottoms
- Board Shorts
- Delivery/ Postage
- International shipping is $35 for orders up to 6 items
- Packaging
- International packages are “usually shipped via DHL so orders are shipped out in DHL packaging”
- If DHL packaging isn’t available, they will use a regular shipping bag, which is black- only information printed on this is about the bag itself and how it is biodegradable
What is University’s Accommodation Policy?
- All anonymous, as they won’t ask what is in the parcel
- Will receive an email with a number to state when you pick it up
- Will just have to sign to say that you have collected it
Other Leicester delivery services available outside this
- Amazon Lockers
- Hermes Lockers
- Local corner stores sometimes offer a parcel collection option
Information on Binder Safety / how to pack correctly