The Skylight store is not like other church thrift stores.

There is an assortment of gigantic stiletto heels, in sizes up to 16 for women. Wigs: Curly, straight, vibrant purple. Lots of plus sizes. Chest binders. And a team of workers eager to help shoppers find clothing and accessories that fit their body and affirm their gender.

The store is a project of Dreams and visionsone of a trio of Lutheran congregations rooted in the building of Saint-Marc Church in Station Nord. Led by Pastor Emily MD Scott, Dreams & Visions centers LGBTQIA+ people, a population that often faces discrimination from others who identify as Christian.

Trans people, in particular, have been attacked in the final weeks of the presidential campaign. Republicans saturate swing states with ads designed to arouse hostility against them.

But this hatred seems a long way from the sunny church loft that houses the Skylight boutique. On a recent Sunday, Dreams & Visions members showed Halloween movies and handed out bags of popcorn and candy while shoppers rummaged through clothing.

“I think people need to know that there are queer-affirming Christian spaces,” said volunteer Phillip Clark. “The Skylight store is a truly tangible way to live out our faith. »

The idea for a gender-affirming thrift store was refined through a series of surveys and interviews conducted by the congregation, Scott said. People who are trans, non-binary, or otherwise gender non-conforming have spoken out about the challenges they have faced when shopping for clothes.

“It’s a very vulnerable experience when your body is different from what the fashion industry typically designs for,” Scott said. “It’s frustrating and demoralizing to have clothes that don’t fit you and have salespeople look at you funny.”

Even if there is a croissant number of brands that sell clothes And gear designed for trans and gender non-conforming people, their products are expensive. And brands are almost entirely online, meaning shoppers often have no way to try items on before buying them.

Additionally, trans people often face financial hardship due to employment discrimination. More than a third of trans people live in poverty and nearly one in five are unemployed, according to a national survey.

At the Skylight store, there is no price tag. A volunteer sits near a cash register, but there is no pressure to pay a set amount. “Expectations are zero, so anything extra is great,” said Abi Wynn, a 26-year-old employee.

The thrift store, which celebrated its first anniversary this month, is largely funded by grants and donations, Scott said. A $20,000 grant from the Baltimore Community Foundation allowed the team to refresh the space and bring it up to code, she said. Additional funding from the Delaware-Maryland Lutheran Synod and Divinity Lutheran Church in Towson allows the store to purchase new gender-affirming equipment and provide stipends for a small staff.

The store, open the second and fourth Sundays of each month, has been so inundated with clothing that it is currently not accepting private donations, Scott said.

On a recent Sunday, assistant manager Owen Miller-Dye, 31, was putting away a pants rack while shoppers browsed around him. Miller-Dye, who is trans, said being in a space that celebrates gender nonconforming people brings her joy.

“If I had found a place like this earlier in my life, I would have been more likely to accept myself,” he said. “I probably would have gotten out sooner.”

Only a handful of other trans-affirmative thrift stores operate nationwide, including Margie’s closet in Cleveland and Safe combinations in Portland, Oregon.

Wynn pointed out that unlike a bar or drag show, the store allows queer people to socialize without spending money. “It’s a place to sit, relax and build community and it’s free,” they said.

Nearby, their friends Noah Grover, 21, and Julian Spence, 28, both baristas, rummaged through racks of clothes. Spence chose a pair of navy corduroys and a peach waffle top – an outfit he loved so much he wore it around the house.

“I come here every chance I get,” Spence said. “All the vibes are really awesome.”