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What is MeNTA? MeNTA stands for "Metropolitan North Transgender Alliance." We are a new group at the LOFT, and exist for the purpose of providing a resource for all transgendered and gender-variant people in Westchester County and surrounding communities. What does transgendered mean?As used here, transgendered is intended as an inclusive umbrella term encompassing the diversity of gender expression, including drag queens and drag kings, the cross-gendered, the bigendered, the weakly-gendered, crossdressers and transvestites, transgenderists and transsexuals. Transgendered includes Female-to-Male (F2M), Male-to-Female (M2F) and Androgynous. Transgendered people identify as lesbian, gay, straight, asexual and bisexual. There is much diversity in the transgendered community. What is transsexuality? Transsexuals are people who find their gender identity - the sense of themselves as male or female - in conflict with their anatomical sex. Some transsexuals may live part time in their self-defined gender. Many desire to live fully in their self-identified gender. Some undergo hormone therapy and/or sex reassignment surgery. What are issues transgendered people face? Transgendered and transsexual people often get a great deal of publicity but less real understanding. No matter how many talk shows or hit movies feature transgendered people, our society still looks at the transgendered and transsexual experience as "abnormal" or sometimes "sick" and "perverted." For many transgendered people this results in secrecy, shame, depression and fear. This leads to increased isolation. It can also lead to compulsive behavior, exploitation, rage, guilt, addiction and even suicide. Much of these difficulties result from the mistaken belief that transgendered and transsexual experiences and identities are a sickness we can somehow "cure." HIV and AIDS prevention & intervention are also issues for transgendered and transsexual people. Often HIV/AIDS educational materials are not sensitive or relevant to transgendered people. This can increase risk for HIV in the transgendered community. In recent years, more people have recognized that transgendered and transsexual people need to accept themselves and adapt their lives to their inner feelings. To better accomplish this, transgendered people have created community support networks and organizations to end isolation, to heal from internalized shame, to decrease risk for HIV/AIDS and substance abuse, and to enable working together to combat prejudice and discrimination. MeNTA has been established to be one of these organizations, with the welcoming support of the resources of the LOFT Center. How MeNTA can help In the tradition of the LOFT Center's commitment to fostering empowerment for lesbians and gay men, the Center's Transgender Group offers transgender and transexual people an opportunity to discover who they are in an atmosphere of self-acceptance and to build community. The LOFT Center's resources are available to the gender-variant through MeNTA, regardless of sexual orientation. MeNTA's community-based approach works to help transgender people to become freer to celebrate their identities and experiences. Why Special Interest Groups? As MeNTA grows, we anticipate that Special Interest Groups (SIGs) will form, possibly affiliated with national organizations that have been established for segments of the transgendered community. We recognize that the Transgendered community is not a monolithic whole, and that we need to celebrate and recognize our diversity. SIGs will be able to focus on specific needs of the particular constituency. MeNTA and The LOFT Center plan to offer: a chance for transgender and transexual people to talk with people like themselves who have worked through similar problems and life transitions. Groups to be formed as needs arise. to medical and social services providers As membership increases, Special Interest Groups (SIGs) will be formed to serve the needs of the diverse spectrum of transgendered people. All services are confidential. For more information, contact MeNTA at the LOFT at (914) 948-2932. Are you wondering why our subheds have eight colors? At MeNTA, we like to think we are bringing the "gender colors" of pink and baby blue back into the rainbow. Did you know they were originally part of the rainbow flag? Click here to read a brief essay by Gwendolyn Ann Smith on "The Missing Colors." Returning the baby blue and pink to the colors here on this page is intended by us to be symbolic of unity and healing, and to signify our thanks for the inclusive and warmly welcoming reception MeNTA has received from the leadership and the board at the LOFT. |