Everyone has their own sense of style, which can change over time. For members of the LGBTQ+ community, it can be a big part of affirming who they really are.

“When I was younger and if you'd asked me about fashion, I would have scoffed and been like, 'I hate fashion. It's ridiculous,'” said Brittany Gray, the founder of Transcend Nickel City.

It took time for Gray to realize fashion was a reflection of their queer identity.

“The older that I've gotten, the more that I've realized that I do present masculine and I think that's where a lot of that disconnect was coming when I was younger,” they explained.

However, finding that joy in clothes that make you feel like you isn’t cheap.

“Especially nowadays, clothes, everything is so expensive," Gray said. "Especially if the way that you dress and the way that you present is tied to your gender identity, that's such a huge roadblock that you could be having.”

Gray moonlights as drag king Freddie Hercury and is using their following to launch Transcend Nickel City.

It’s a popup closet offering free gender-affirming clothes.

“I wanted to move from just doing performances to use that platform to help the community and give back,” Gray explained.

An endeavor two months in the making, donations poured in quickly.

“I'm trying to sort them in ways that make sense for a gender non-conforming or gender fluid situation,” said Gray as they sorted through a pile of clothes.

There is still some need, including smaller men’s clothes, larger women’s clothes and gender-affirming gear.

“Binders are a big thing that we need," they said. "Any kind of gender-affirming specific year is hard to come by because people keep it when they have it, you know?"

While this isn’t the only trans closet in New York, or even in Buffalo, Gray hopes that this being community-based makes it easier for people to stop in.

“Really, no questions asked. You take what you need,” Gray said. “Maybe they've never met other trans people in Buffalo, maybe they live somewhere that is a little bit far away from the city and so they're not in the community all the time, and they get to meet other people like them.”

The first event is later this month, but Gray didn’t want to make all those details public in Spectrum News 1 Buffalo's piece.

“You don't want the wrong people to know about it because you do have to protect yourselves," they said. "One of the things that's most important to me in this is discretion and safety because part of the reason trans people don't have access to the stuff is because they can't always come out."

You can find that information on social media via direct message.

Ultimately, this effort is trying to help people shine, both inside and out.

“As hard as it can be to be queer [...] and as scary as it can be, the most meaningful part of being queer for me is experiencing the joy that comes with it,” Gray added.

Because this effort is just starting, there is still a need for monetary assistance.

Transcend Nickel City isn't a formal nonprofit yet, but they do have a wishlist, as mentioned above. They are also taking cash donations to help with purchasing in-demand items and storage places.