Who We Are
Mission Statement
TransNewYork’ mission is to educate, empower, and enhance the lives of Transgender, Gender Non-conforming and Non-binary Individuals globally through advocacy, community visibility, human and social services, advance knowledge, and lifelong learning development of self.
“Transgender people, especially transgender women of color, face pervasive discrimination throughout life, including by those sworn to protect us” -Sarah McBride | First Transgender State Senator in U.S. History
Vision
TransNewYork’ seeks to be acknowledge as the organization of choice for transgender, gender non-conforming, and non-binary communities in the City of New York and the surrounding Metropolitan area.
“we delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty” -Lucas Silverira | First Openly Trans Man To Be In A Rock Band Signed BY A Major Record Label
Core Values
TransNewYork’ core values speak to the butterfly in our logo. The butterfly represents how a caterpillar that comes out of a tiny egg, metamorphose into a butterfly with magnificently artistic designs on its wings. We use the butterfly and its life cycle as a universal symbol to empower our transgender, gender non-conforming, and non-binary sisters, and brothers in/on their journey of transitioning into wholeness, oneness, and authenticity. * Note: The time spent at each of the stages can vary.
Stage 1: The Egg
Just as the outer shell (called chorion), which protects the larva inside, transgenders, gender non-conforming, and non-binary individuals use their assign birth vessels to seek resources to help them navigate the world until their caterpillar stage.
Stage 2: The Plural of Larva (Caterpillar)
At this growth stage, a caterpillar tiny wings disks appear on the thoracic segment. They can be dull-colored or may have striped bodies of bright colors. As it grows, a caterpillar continues shedding its skin to meet its body’s growth. Just as the caterpillar, transgenders, gender non-conforming, and non-binary individuals start to shed from their assigned birth vessels and began to grow into their rightfully self. Furthermore, just as the caterpillar hangs itself on the underside of a leaf to start proceeding towards the next stage of its life, transgenders, gender non-conforming, and non-binary individuals are connected to the necessary resources to aide them in/on their journey of transitioning.
Stage 3: The Pupa (Chrysalis)
During this stage, the larval skin comes off. The time period that elapses between the shedding of skin is called the instar. This is similar with transgenders, gender non-conforming, and non-binary individuals undergoing hormonal treatment, gender reassignment and other cosmetic procedures. During transformation, the wings are formed.
Stage 4: The Adult Butterfly
At this final stage, the butterfly emerges with wings. For our transgenders, gender non-conforming, and non-binary sisters, and brothers this is the stage that completes their transition and allow them to acclimate to the world in their rightful identity. They spread their wings and fly!
“we delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty” -Dr. Maya Angelou | Poet, Memoirist & Civil Rights Activist