Protect the Dolls: More Than a Tee, It’s a Promise

If you’ve been anywhere near fashion or queer culture lately, you’ve probably seen it: bold block letters shouting from crisp white cotton : PROTECT THE DOLLS.

It’s cropped up on runways, on Instagram feeds, on Pedro Pascal and Troye Sivan. It’s a tee that’s gone viral. But beyond the viral moment, those three words carry decades of meaning, resilience, and love.

So let’s talk about where “Protect the Dolls” came from, why it matters, and how we can all help keep the promise behind the phrase.

“Protect the Dolls” didn’t appear out of thin air, or a designer’s mood board. It was born in the ballroom scene of the 1980s, an underground world created by Black and Latin queer communities in New York.

Ballroom wasn’t just a party, it was a lifeline. A place where people who were rejected by families and mainstream society found chosen family, community, and a stage on which to shine.

In this world, trans women weren’t just part of the crowd, they were the blueprint. They were innovators, performers, house mothers, and icons. Ballroom gave them a space to exist loudly and proudly, in a society that often tried to erase them.

And in ballroom slang, “the dolls” became an affectionate term for trans women. To protect the dolls was to protect the women who made that world possible.

Fast forward to late 2023, when American designer Conner Ives printed “PROTECT THE DOLLS” across a simple white tee in bold, unapologetic letters.

It wasn’t long before the shirt showed up on celebrities, influencers, and everyday people alike.

Suddenly, a phrase that once echoed in ballroom houses was on the world stage. But make no mistake: this is more than a fashion trend.

The “Protect the Dolls” tee is more than merch, it’s a statement. A vow.

It’s a reminder that trans women deserve safety, joy, rights, and visibility, not just in ballrooms but everywhere
.
And this isn’t just empty sloganeering. A significant portion of the proceeds from Conner Ives’ T-shirt sales goes to Trans Lifeline, a non-profit dedicated to providing emotional and financial support to trans people in crisis.

So yes, it’s fashion. But it’s also direct action.

Why It Will Always Matter

This message couldn’t be more urgent. Around the world, and right here in South Africa, trans women still face violence, discrimination, and systemic barriers to healthcare, safety, and basic dignity.

The UK has seen court rulings restricting trans women’s rights. In the US, anti-trans legislation is hitting record numbers. And here at home, trans women continue to battle social stigma and violence, often with little protection from the law.

In a world obsessed with policing gender and identity, Protect the Dolls is both a shield and a call to arms.

How to Protect the Dolls

Wearing the tee is a great start. But real protection means action. Here’s how we can all help:

• Listen to trans women. Believe their experiences. Give them platforms to speak.
  
  
• Support trans-led organisations. Donate, volunteer, and share their work. Amazing groups in South Africa and worldwide are doing crucial work every day.
  
  
• Call out transphobia. In conversations, online, and in your communities. Silence is complicity.
  
  
• Pay trans creators and workers fairly. Whether it’s art, performance, sex work, consulting, or activism—trans labour deserves respect and fair compensation.
  
  
• Educate yourself. Don’t rely on trans people to do all the explaining. Learn the history, the issues, and how you can help.

Organisations to Support

If you want to turn solidarity into real-world impact, here are some brilliant organisations you can support:

In South Africa

Gender DynamiX

One of Africa’s first organisations focused solely on trans rights, working to advance visibility, healthcare access, and legal rights for trans and gender-diverse people.
(genderdynamix.org.za)

Iranti

SA-based media and advocacy organisation amplifying the voices of trans, intersex, and lesbian communities through storytelling and human rights campaigns.
(iranti.org.za)

Triangle Project

Provides health services, community support, and advocacy for LGBTI+ people in the Western Cape and beyond, including support for trans communities.
(triangle.org.za)

Access Chapter 2 (AC2)

Works nationally to promote human rights for LGBTI+ communities, including trans advocacy, research, and community support.
(accesschapter2.org)

Internationally

Trans Lifeline

A peer support and crisis hotline run by trans people, for trans people, plus microgrants for basic needs.
(translifeline.org)

Transgender Europe (TGEU)

An umbrella organisation working across Europe and Central Asia on trans rights, policy, and advocacy.
(tgeu.org)

Transgender Law Center

A major US-based legal and policy advocacy organisation with global influence, pushing for trans rights and protections.
(transgenderlawcenter.org)

Global Action for Trans Equality (GATE)

An international group working on trans, gender-diverse, and intersex rights at the global policy level.
(gate.ngo)

Sure this may be trending but this goes to show that there is real power in fashion. A simple slogan on a tee shirt can go a long way : it can spark conversations, raise money, and hopefully shift the culture.

But Protect the Dolls is more than a tee. It’s a promise, to see trans women, to love them, to keep them safe, and to celebrate their brilliance.

So yes, wear the shirt. But remember the vow behind it. Protect the Dolls, every day, in every way.