The suit alleges a New York City-based retailer sold the products to young girls without warning about potential health risks.
AUSTIN, Texas — Chest binders, also known as compression tops, are at the center of a new lawsuit from the Texas Attorney General’s Office, drawing reactions from advocates and local retailers.
The suit alleges that New York City-based retailer Lola Olivia sold the products to young girls without warning about potential health risks, including chest pain and shortness of breath.
The product has also drawn federal scrutiny. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued warning letters to a dozen other companies, claiming they illegally market them to children for the purpose of treating gender dysphoria.
Asher Thye with the Transgender Education Network of Texas said the conversation should focus on education and proper use of the product.
“It’s about everyone having the right to wear what feels best for themselves and their bodies,” Thye said. “Everything can be misused under the sun. And it’s about education for how to use something safely and well. And combating misinformation and fear mongering about what those risks actually are and how likely they actually are.”
Thye said access to a compression top can prevent people from turning to unsafe alternatives.
“When I was growing up as a trans guy before binders were accessible and safe, people I knew were using, like, duct tape and things like that,” Thye said. “It’s incredibly dangerous to [the] community when we don’t have access to safe resources.”
Thye said that users should understand their limits, including taking breaks at night, avoiding extended wear and not using binders during exercise.
Local sellers told KVUE that chest binders are used by a variety of people, not just one community.
“It’s not just for trans men,” said Dan Chavez, General Manager at Package Austin. “It’s for actors. It’s for people with – maybe cis men who have a little bit too much tissue in their top and they want to tone it down. It’s also used for being more mobile.”
Chavez said public controversy on the topic could lead to a drop in sales, but the business remains committed to offering the products.
“We are an all inclusive store,” Chavez said. “Even profits aside, it’s important to our community that we provide them with what they need and what they can.”
KVUE reached out to Lola Olivia multiple times for comment following the announcement of the lawsuit, but the retailer has not responded by the time of publication.