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Sienna is a forum for adults living, exploring, or questioning their gender identity or assisting those doing so.
The mission of our transgender social and support group is to provide a safe non-judgmental atmosphere in which to meet, talk, and help each other with individual concerns arising from our natural desires to express and explore our gender identity.
We are a gateway to the experiences of transgender persons in the community. We are a contact point for, and a source for local and national organizations involved in transgender civil rights, and health issues. We maintain a list of therapists, psychiatrists, endocrinologists, and surgeons that can assist in every aspect of exploring, understanding and transitioning into the gender with which you truly identify.
As asocial group we get together at fun places to dine, dance, picnic, and enjoy ourselves at GLBTQ friendly places in Kentuckiana.
Sienna has meetings in Louisville on the third Saturday every month. We welcome all who believe they are transgender and supporters of transgender persons.
The meeting has a format in which each member of the club may bring forth topics of interest to the community. At times, a quest speaker will address the group to educate, assist, and give points-of-view helpful to all. We also encourage everyone to bring their ideas and desires to improve the group and its service to the lager community. back to top
There aren't very many. We ask that people treat each other with respect and support regardless of their status in the transgender community. Prejudice against anyone for reasons of color, religion, national origin, or sexual orientation is not permitted.
We encourage the development of friendships in the group. We discourage anyone from using the group meeting as a dating service. Some of our members attend with their spouses or partners and they are often uncomfortable observing such behavior. While we are open to all, we want our meeting to be a safe place to meet and feel there are more appropriate places for member to find dates.
Most importantly, we ask that Sienna members use the utmost consideration when contacting other group members by telephone, email, or when meeting them in public places. There will always be club members who cannot live in their transgender role or reveal themselves as transgender to the general public. We as a group take privacy very seriously. Should it become known that a member of our group deliberately reveals the alternate identity of another member to embarrass or cause them harm ("outing" the person), it will be considered grounds for immediate expulsion from Sienna. back to top
At other times of the month Sienna will sponsor a social-get-together at one of the trans-friendly bars, clubs, and restaurants in the Kentuckiana area. We also occasionally attend meetings of other transgender groups in the region, (Links To Other Groups). We have found that this is another great way for you to get out and present yourself, as well as to learn to feel comfortable in your gender role. The date and place for these gatherings can be found by clicking on Events. back to top
At this time Sienna does not have any formal membership requirement. You are welcome to attend our group meeting whenever you like. We do ask you do a few things to support the group. 1) For attending a meeting we ask you please donate a minimum of $5.00 or more. For those attending for the first time we welcome you free of charge. Of course any donations will be gratefully received! 2) Our group grows by our attendees bringing someone or something new to the meeting. Some members have found it beneficial to bring family members or friends to whom they have just come out. Others will bring the name of a book to recommend or discuss, or a book to be added to the group library. Some may bring clothing, wigs, and jewelry no longer used. 3) If you are good with makeup and wish to share your knowledge, there is always someone who could use your help. 4) Names of health care professionals and how to contact them, places that are trans-friendly, persons or places that are willing to provide personal care services, such as makeup, electrolysis and the like, as well as other resources you believe helpful to us all. 5) You may bring snack items such as soda pop, potato chips and the like to make being together more fun. back to top
Dealing With Transgender Issues:
Sienna members occupy nearly all points of the transgender spectrum, from crossdressers to post-operative transsexuals. In meeting face-to-face we believe this is the best way to share experiences and feelings all transgender persons may go through. We are not therapist, but we can give a great deal of insight into issues and questions affecting you. A list of Health Care Providers is maintained and continuously updated through the help of our members.
We also invite health care professional to contact Sienna with questions regarding clients seeking a transgender support group. Should you as a health care professional have questions we can provide a few helpful important resources, (For Health Care Professionals), and an opportunity to meet personally with a member or members of our group to answer your questions from their own experiences and insights. We invite all health care providers to contact us and if so desired, attend our meetings.
For parents with children who are, or may be transgender; although we are a club for adults, we can refer you to organizations what specialize in adolescent transsexualism, (Other Resources). Should such a parent wish to attend a meeting, we would welcome them. Should such a parent then wish to have their child attend, we required the transgender adolescent attend only when accompanied by a parent. back to top
Sienna's logo is the original artwork of Tina Baker, a trans-woman of Kentuckiana. The field is the color of Sienna, an off brown sand color, where our group gets its name. The feather symbolizes the idea that "Birds of a feather flock together." This brings the concept of unity and family to all of us. This also represents the freedom to fly, change, and to become the person you know you are.
The feather is also a quill for you to write the true story of your life. Many of us keep a journal, express themselves on their own website or in web logs (blogs), as well as writing short stories and novels of their experiences. Many of our members have done so and have found it very helpful and personally satisfying.
We hope these words give you hope and the understanding that you are not alone in your gender journey. We hope that we also give you the courage to carry on and join us in SIENNA. back to top
On our journey from who we have pretended to be to who we are is not an easy one. So much of our feeling, desires, and how we see ourself is mask in fear.
Expose your feelings by journaling, in music, art, dance, or other creative ways. You can engage the process of seeing the happier you.
Be good to yourself. And do not hide your greatness.