Austin Trans Woman Humiliated By Lingerie Store Staff Member

A lingerie store in Austin, Texas has been accused of humiliating a transgender customer, reports Jezebel.com.

On her Facebook page, Kylie Jack said that a staff member at Petticoat Fair asked her for ID stating she was female.  Jack was also told that she had to have undergone sex reassignment surgery in order to have a fitting.

According to its website, “every woman [at Petticoat Fair] is treated with respect and given one-on-one attention and is helped to feel comfortable and confident in properly fitted undergarments.”

The store’s owner Kirk Andrews has since posted a lengthy apology which reads in part:

“There seems to be a misconception that Petticoat Fair has a policy of not working with the transgendered community. That is not the case. In fact, we have served the transgendered community for most of our 50 years in Austin. What we do have is a policy regarding who may or may not enter our fitting rooms.

The dressing room area is a particularly private and vulnerable place for many women and girls, so it’s a protected area. For that reason, we also have a completely separate dressing area for women who have undergone mastectomies and need post-surgical care.

Just as a gym won’t allow men in a women’s dressing room for the comfort and safety of its patrons, we don’t allow men or boys above a certain age in our dressing area.

Despite our otherwise inclusive approach, those who might be or who outwardly appear to be men (regardless of how they are dressed) pose a delicate challenge, and in the case of imposters, can pose a safety risk to the Petticoat Fair staff.

We respect our customers at Petticoat Fair. All of them. I hope that with this explanation, you have some helpful insight to who we are, how we do business, and that we are open to a productive dialogue.”

In a response to Kirk’s apology, Jack replied:

“Kirk is sincere in his efforts to do better, but only time and actual action will tell. I’ll consider the issue resolved when a formal public apology is issued to the Austin trans community along with the steps they’re taking to update their policies to be trans-friendly and trans-inclusive.”

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Austin Lingerie Store Promises Changes In Transgender Controversy

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Updated: Friday, July 4 2014, 11:51 AM CDT

A transgender controversy that started with a bra fitting, has an Austin lingerie store working on changes to its store policy. A trans woman says she was humiliated at Petticoat Fair last weekend. On Thursday the owner invited consumer reporter Bettie Cross into his store so he could explain what happened and where they go from here. 

Petticoat Fair says it caters to all women and is now trying to make sure that holds true. 

“It’s a challenge,” said Kirk Andrews, owner of Petticoat Fair. “We’re trying to educate ourselves.” 

Andrews is at the center of the transgender controversy that started last Saturday when Kylie Jack asked for a bra fitting. 

“I get it. I don’t look exactly like every other woman out there,” said Kylie. “The employee asked me if l was an anatomical female.”

Kylie says she was told she could buy lingerie, but she could not get the fitting service.

“When I asked why not, she said I would have to be fully transitioned. What she meant by that is that I’d have to have actual sexual reassignment surgery,” said Kylie. 

It’s a policy the store owner says he regrets. 

“In hindsight it was a pretty dumb decision on my part to have that, to have that policy,” said Andrews.

Typically, customers sign in for a fitting. Then they’re brought bras and other garments from the stock room. 

“We shop for the customer basically,” said Krissi Riewe, Petticoat Fair store manager and buyer. “The fitter stays with the customer the entire time. 

That intimate service may have contributed to the problem. 

“They’re concerned about trans women being in their fitting rooms,” said Kylie. 

Kylie’s description of what she calls a “humiliating” experience went viral on Facebook. 

“Trans women are women and we deserve to be in women’s spaces,” said Kylie. 

Petticoat Fair agrees it needs to update store policies and on Thursday is meeting with leaders of the transgender community. 

“Maybe if people can see that educating yourself, talking about it, and coming together and trying to find a common solution to something is better than screaming at each other,” said Andrews. 

Ultimately, the owner says he just wants Kylie to feel comfortable enough to shop here again. 

“I admire the way she stood up for what she believes,” said Andrews. 

Petticoat Fair says it will likely be another week before it will have new transgender policies in place.

By Bettie Cross

Austin Lingerie Store Promises Changes In Transgender Controversy

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