It’s been alarming to see the speed with which civil rights and hard won freedoms are being rolled back in many countries, and trans folk are clearly in the front line.
Back in the Summer of 2023 I came to the conclusion that it’s really important for folk with privilege to visibly demonstrate solidarity, where they can.
And what better way to show solidarity with vulnerable groups that are being thrown under the bus in the haste to discard DEI initiatives than by re-using and re-purposing corporate swag?
Here’s a promotional tshirt for a certain open source container orchestration system that had been languishing in a drawer. With bonus feet…
You know what would make that tshirt miles better? A shark! And not just any old shark, but Blåhaj, the much beloved IKEA shark.
At some point I’d discovered that you can buy special thermal transfer paper which you print onto like regular inkjet compatible paper, then peel off the backing (important to remember this bit!) before ironing onto your fabric or clothing item.
It’s fairly obvious when you are looking in shops - the label usually says something like “iron-on transfer paper”, but be sure to check that the size is compatible with your printer. Also remember to use the thermal protective sheet which comes with the transfer paper pack, or you may end up with a big mess and a busted iron.
If you have a bit of time to spare you can achieve a more professional look by cutting around the edges of the design you’re printing, say with a craft knife or dressmaking scissors, so that it’s less obviously stuck on.
Somewhere on the Interwebs I found a nice design showing a Blåhaj with a trans-flag coloured banner wrapped around it which reads “Friend of Blåhaj”, and printed this to use on my tshirt:
It’s now 2025, and as part of documenting this make for Mayke I found that the Friends of Blåhaj design was created by Talen Lee. If you like it, Talen sells a wide range of posters, stickers, mugs, tshirts etc with variants of this design.
Check out Talen Lee's siteThis might all seem like a bit of silly fun, which it most certainly is. However, every visible sign of solidarity helps trans folk to know that they are valid and important. Showing solidarity also helps to discourage bigots and establish a counter-narrative of acceptance and tolerance.
Above all, remember that you might not realise that you have privilege until it’s taken away. And by then, it’s too late…