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How trans-friendly is the local
area?
The cities of Harrisburg and York are two of only 91
cities in the country that have formally adopted
Gender Identity Anti-Discrimination Laws to protect
their transgendered residents.
In 1983, Harrisburg adopted such discrimination laws
along with sexual identity laws. These protections
include, but are not limited to, public
accommodation, housing, employment, education and
the right to sue. In 1998, the City of York also
adopted Gender Identity Anti-Discrimination Laws.
Although not as inclusive as Harrisburg, York’s laws
offer protection in public accommodation, housing
and employment.
In December 2002, the State of Pennsylvania added
gender identity among other categories to their Hate
Crime Law. There are several other cities and
communities in Pennsylvania that offer similar
protections for transgendered individuals. Currently
there are several bills pending in the state
legislature to further extend rights and protections
to Transgendered individuals.
Who can attend a
meeting?
Although our group maintains an open door policy to
anyone Transgendered, their significant others,
families, friends and allies or who has a
professional and sincere interest in the
Trans-community, there may be times when some of our
members may feel uncomfortable or threatened with
the presence of an outside guest.
Those outside individuals that are not known on a
very personal level and do not fit the description
of Transgendered, family member, spouse, significant
other or very close friend are asked to contact the
group prior to attending via email or our website
even if the individual has a professional interest
in the Trans-community.
Members are highly encouraged to invite individuals
they know on a personal level such as family
members, spouses, significant others, very close
friends as well as other Transgendered individuals.
If you, as a member, have a concern about an invited
guest, please inform one of the Officers
immediately. So as not to cause an embarrassing
situation to you, the group, or members of our
group, we ask our members to follow this protocol
before inviting outside guests.
This does not prohibit members of our group to talk
about TransCentralPA nor is this intended to
discourage our members from encouraging outside
individuals from participating in the
Trans-community. There is a delicate balance between
our member’s privacy and our openness to the general
public and we must remember how extremely important
it is for us to use cautious discretion when
inviting outside individuals.
How much does it cost
to join?
There is no fee to attend our group meetings.
TransCentralPA is a non-profit organization funded
by donations and the dues of our members. Our annual
membership dues are $25 (with no additional per
meeting fee). TransCentralPA uses this money to pay for
the meeting space and other general expenses of the
group.
What about privacy?
TransCentralPA is absolutely committed to protecting
our members' and guests' privacy. These policies are
codified in our Bylaws and Rules of Conduct. All
members and guests are required to abide by the
Rules of Conduct. The Rules of Conduct and Bylaws
are posted on our website and are available in
writing upon request at our meetings.
Can I change at the
meeting?
The doors open approximately at 8:00 pm and the
meeting starts at 8:30 pm. The bathroom facilities
are available if you need to change before the
meeting begins. There are no shower facilities in
the church.
Which bathroom do I
use?
While at our meeting, use whichever one you feel
most comfortable with! Outside of our meeting, we
recommend as a general rule of thumb to use the
bathroom that best aligns with the gender you are
outwardly expressing.
What is the history
of TransCentralPA?
TransCentralPA was formerly known as the Lower
Susquehanna Valley Chapter of Renaissance and has
been serving the Trans-community since 1989. In
2006, the group broke from Renaissance and
reestablished itself as an individual entity to
better serve the needs of its members and the
community.
What group resources
are available?
TransCentralPA not only maintains a website with a
variety of links but also a library of Transgendered
books, videos, newsletters, brochures and other
material that are available at no cost.
Please remember that most of these items have been
donated or are on loan from other members. We
ask that you take care of the materials accordingly
and return them when you are finished with them.
How do I join the
mailing list?
TransCentralPA sends out a monthly newsletter as
well as reminders for various activities. If you
would like to be kept up to date of group
activities, please send us your request via an email
to
info@TransCentralPA.org and we’ll be happy to add
you to our email list.
How can I
participate?
TransCentralPA has many opportunities for you to
give back to the Trans-community depending upon your
abilities, availability and openness. Donate your
old Transgender books, videos and magazines; help
out with the group meetings; participate in one of
our panel discussions at a college or university; be
a big brother/sister to a new person or simply share
the story of your journey with us. Everyone’s
situation is unique, so do and share whatever you
feel comfortable with. |
