Women Trans* Femme (WTF) Workshop
Mondays 3-7pm
This “workshop” is run similarly to our BICAS open shop but in a supportive all-WTF/only-WTF atmosphere
The mission of BICAS’ WTF (Women/Trans/Femme) Workshop is to build a knowledge-sharing community with anyone who self-identifies as transgender, femme, female, woman, genderqueer, nonbinary, or feels that their socialization or treatment as a woman, transperson, and/or femme has impeded their participation in bicycle mechanics and/or cycling communities. (Click here to jump below for further discussion of these identities.)
Bring your own bike project (or see what we have!) and use our Community Tools ($6-12/hr) as an informal classroom with WTF-identified mechanics on hand to guide you and answer your questions.
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WTF Community EVENTS:
Group rides! Craft nights! Movies! Join us for a special WTF event every first Monday. Check our FB page and our Instgram (bicas_wtf) for upcoming events.
WTF-only Basic Maintenance Classes: Do you want to learn how to fix a flat on your own bike? Have you ever wanted to come to BICAS but didn’t know how to begin? Does the idea of learning alongside other WTF folks sound appealing? Then sign up for a WTF Basic Maintenance Class! Click here to view dates for all upcoming Basic Maintenance Classes.
Group photo from our WTF Mural Bike Ride
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WTF in the News:
- Read about us in the Arizona Daily Wildcat “BICAS WTF: fixing bikes and fixing stereotypes” (Feb 2019)
- BICAS WTF was on KXCI’s Tucson’s Pedaling the Pueblo! Click here to give it a listen! (April 2018)
- We were featured in Issue #1 of Misadventures Magazine ! “Shifting Gears: How one bicycle collective in Tucson is changing the mechanics of empowerment.” (June 2016)
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Why WTF?
Bicycle maintenance has traditionally been an overwhelmingly (cis)male-dominated area. It is our goal to help teach individuals who have been marginalized or intimidated in this setting to be knowledgeable and confident working on their bikes. Our BICAS WTF Workshop was developed in response to an expressed community need for such a program, drawing inspiration from similar programs nationally and internationally.
On a daily basis BICAS strives to ensure a safe and comfortable environment for all, while also recognizing the benefits of offering women, trans* & femme-specific hours as a stepping stone to achieving greater confidence working in our space throughout the week.
This space is for:
Women: A person who identifies as a woman. Period.
Trans* People: Transgender, genderqueer, non-binary, non-conforming, anyone whose gender identity is fluid, transgressive, and/or transitioning.
Femmes: A person of any gender who embodies a “feminine” appearance, expression, or identity, including those who identify as femmes, fairies, sissies, mariposas, mariquitas, or any expression which counters or challenges “traditional” masculinity.
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If you are not WTF identified, BECOME AN ALLY:
Allies DO:
- Respect the space: Give us our day without an argument. It’s just one day.
- Respect People: During any given day at BICAS, treat all female & trans* mechanics with respect, including respecting their instructions, knowledge, and pronouns.
- Get Educated: Seek out information about the issues facing women and trans* communities and make genuine efforts to learn and practice using the most respectful terminology, pronouns, etc, even if they are new to you.
- Educate others: Tell others why spaces like WTF are important. Also, interrupt others when they are making messed up jokes or violent remarks about women, trans folks, and femmes.
- Listen: Just stop and allow space for WTF people to share about our lives and experiences. Believe that our stories are true, even if you don’t fully understand them.
If you are sincere about becoming a better ally but don’t know where to start, check out this truly excellent resource created by PFLAG: “Guide to Being a Trans Ally” And thank you!
Allies DON’T:
- Ask for exceptions or ask to come in during WTF for “just one little thing.”
- Say they “can be a woman for a day.”
- Hang around the entrance during WTF hours.
- Call women or people they perceive to be women “sweetie,” “honey,” “baby,” etc.
- Interrupt women, trans*, or femme people while we are talking.
- Grab wrenches out of anybody’s hands.
- Assume WTF mechanics are less skilled or knowledgeable.
- Ask WTF mechanics if our boyfriends/husbands taught us how to fix bikes.
- Ask WTF mechanics anything about our boyfriends/husbands/romantic lives.
- Hit on WTF mechanics while we are helping you fix your bike. Not cool. We’re at work.
- Make any unsolicited comments about other people’s bodies. Period.
Questions or comments? Want to host an event or workshop? Contact us: WTF@bicas.org
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This project is supported in part by a grant from LGBTQ+ Alliance Fund, a fund of the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona
