GENY’s core mission is to advocate for the NYS transgender, non-binary, and intersex (TGNBI) communities by engaging in education and outreach to create public understanding and influence social attitudes.  Our leadership believes that there is a severe lack of understanding by the general public of those who are “gender expansive”. The majority of New Yorkers do not understand basic gender concepts and terminology and, where there is a lack of understanding, there is fear and misinformation regarding the community of “gender-expansive” people.

Those who do not conform to gender-based stereotypes, or whose gender presentation or identity differs from the one usually associated with their anatomical sex, often experience discomfort, distrust, and aggression by “cisgender” people (those whose personal gender identity matches the designation they were given at birth). These negative emotions can progress to actions of harassment, abuse, discrimination, and violence which force most gender-expansive people into hiding or isolation. Those who are brave enough to be “out” regularly face some form of mistreatment.   

Since many of the members of the gender-expansive community conceal their authentic selves, no effective steps to normalize the community can be taken. This combination continues the vicious cycle of a poorly informed general public that forces TGNBI people underground, which in turn keeps the general public from learning about TGNBI life experiences and the discrimination and violence they endure.