Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin is facing criticism over her allocation of $400,000 in federal funds to a youth services organization that provided chest binders to girls identifying as boys. In response, Baldwin’s latest campaign ad clarifies that the funding went to a “youth homeless shelter” rather than a transgender clinic, asserting that sex change surgeries do not take place in Wisconsin. However, this explanation has been challenged as misleading.
The organization in question, Briarpatch Youth Services, was the recipient of Baldwin’s earmarked funds. At the time, the group ran an LGBTQIA2S+ program called “Teens Like Us,” which included a “gender-affirming clothing program” that distributed chest binders—worn by girls identifying as boys to flatten their chests—and gaffs, which are underwear designed for boys identifying as girls.
Briarpatch even promoted donations for gently used binders and referred visitors to Origami Customs, a website offering custom garments for transgender individuals, with advice on safe binding and tucking practices. Although Briarpatch has since removed references to chest binders from its website, the organization continues to offer LGBTQ support and resources like pronoun pins and pride flags.
Baldwin maintains that the funding was only intended for mental health services and not the group’s sexuality-focused activities. Yet, critics point out that transgender surgeries and hormone treatments for minors have risen in Wisconsin, with at least 195 minors undergoing surgery since 2019 and many others being prescribed puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones.
Governor Tony Evers recently vetoed legislation that would have banned these procedures on minors, keeping the controversial issue at the forefront of Baldwin’s re-election campaign. Conservatives, including Baldwin’s Republican challenger Eric Hovde, as well as former President Donald Trump and advocacy groups like CatholicVote, have taken aim at Democrats for their stance on transgender issues. CatholicVote’s campaign revealed that at least 86 girls in Wisconsin had undergone mastectomies as part of their gender transition.
This debate has put Baldwin in a defensive position, as she navigates the political ramifications of her past support for federal funding tied to LGBTQ initiatives.
