The fight for inclusiveness by the LGBTQ+ community is far from over, and the actively concerned people across different spheres have shown undeterred commitment to see that fight through. Jerra Kaitlynn Whittaker is one of the latest to share her experience in her world while expressing profound respect and thanks to Trans Clothing Company, the company she worked with for the last six seasons.
Jerra K. Whittaker is a professional model, former Model Coordinator, and Associate Designer for Trans Clothing Company, owned by designer Melissa Kay Atkinson. Their work in the fashion world has been geared towards giving the trans community a voice and championing the group’s human rights causes. Trans Clothing Company has an all-trans crew and staff, and Jerra K. Whittaker had found quite the home with the company. “I saw something in Melissa’s abilities, and the ethos was good. Trans Clothing Company provides opportunities for Trans people to explore the fashion industry and become visible to the public. As a transsexual woman, I am supportive of everyone in our community,” Jerra said.
Despite the progress that the trans community has achieved recently, Jerra K. Whittaker has had some extremely challenging experiences as a trans woman, like how she recently missed out on walking on the runway on February 10, 2022, at Sony Hall. She was booked to walk the runway as Trans Clothing Company’s lead model, but she ended up sitting in the third row as a guest, in support of her model crew, thus missing the show as a model. That happened due to a decision she had to make for the greater good after an adversary from her past as an activist saw her name on the company’s website and decided to protest outside the show against Atkinson’s company and the trans crew. Jerra decided to excuse herself from her position with Atkinson’s company to prevent the show from getting canceled for TCC or ruining all the work Melissa Kay Atkinson had done over the years. The show also had a Forbes reporter who was supposed to capture the event and write a feature in Forbes Magazine.
“A protest during Fashion Week just doesn’t look good, so I cut a deal. I would leave the company, and he would call off his ilk of haters. I feel like it was the correct move, given the circumstances at the moment. My job as the Lead Model for the company was to protect my crew, Melissa, and Trans Clothing Company. I did my job. I would do it again and take that bullet as many times as it takes to stop the hate,” Jerra revealed.
The whole fiasco made it seem like Jerra had an issue with Melissa and the Trans Clothing Company crew, but Jerra reiterates that she had to depart the company and would like to give absolute recognition to Melissa Atkinson, Trans Clothing Company, and the bravest crew she ever cast for Atkinson. She also hopes to get the attention of The CFDA Board in New York City, Anna Wintour at Vogue Magazine, The Human Rights Council, and GLAAD and point out the hate and derision still being meted out to trans people. Jerra K. Whittaker believes that fighting for trans people’s rights can save lives, and she wants to give Trans Clothing Company all the props for its bravery and for taking the initiative by giving trans people strong representation. She hopes that VOGUE and CFDA will extend some funding to Melissa Atkinson for her work in supporting the trans community. As for Whittaker, she fears her career as a professional model is probably finished due to her decision.
In the next few years, she sees Melissa Atkinson and Trans Clothing Company rising to the top of the fashion industry and enjoying massive success.
