Our Mission
The Sexuality and Gender Acceptance (SAGA) Initiative aims to provide gender-affirming care packages to transgender people in West Virginia. We also support and advocate for marginalized communities. West Virginia has the highest per capita rate of transgender youth in the United States but also has one of the lowest rates for LGBTQ+ acceptance in the country. Communities in West Virginia face many economic barriers - this especially applies to LGBTQ+ youth who may not receive financial support from unaccepting family members. We hope one day to expand to help more than just individuals in West Virginia as well. Gender-affirming items can be financially out of reach for transgender individuals. The SAGA Initiative has been formed to provide these items at no cost with shipping fees covered by the organization. Gender-affirming items encompass chest binders and boxers for trans masculine people, and bras and tucking underwear for trans feminine people. When ordering a GAC Pack, you can customize what items you want to receive based on your specific needs, selecting from a range of items including chest binders, TransTape, boxers, padded bras, tucking underwear, perfume, and cologne. The SAGA Initiative provides GAC Packs at no cost and covers shipping and handling fees.
If you’d like to donate to our cause, see our Donate page.
Our Story
The SAGA Initiative began to take shape in March of 2022 when Lonnie Medley and Aaron Reedy were driven to help their LGBTQ+ peers by mobilizing their high school's GSA — the Sexuality and Gender Acceptance Club, referred to as SAGA Club. That summer was spent fundraising and tabling to set their idea into motion. Colin Street joined the fold in early September to help carry the project forward. Together, they conceptualized a way of distributing free gender-affirming care items to students through Gender Affirming Care Packages (GAC Packs).
However, in the autumn of 2022, the county Board of Education ordered the removal of pride flags from all classrooms. Lonnie, Colin, and Aaron, along with several community leaders and fellow students, organized peaceful protests and delivered speeches to the Board of Education — drawing statewide attention and the West Virginia branch of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU-WV) into the mix. As the school system cracked down on pride flags and the GSA’s activities, SAGA had to move outside and beyond the control of the Board of Education. The trio entered a fiscal sponsorship with the ACLU-WV to get started. The three co-founders named the non-profit The SAGA Initiative — maintaining an aspect of the organization's origins. In 2023, the organization was able to distribute its first GAC Packs to trans youth in West Virginia. In February of 2024, The SAGA Initiative became an independent 501(c)3 nonprofit.
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