Showing posts with label transgender. Show all posts

Witchy Wednesday - Caring for Others

A few weeks ago we talked about Self Care - This week we're going to talk about caring for others. By this I what I am referring to is inclusiveness.


Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson


Over the last few weeks I have see an increase in the number of people deciding that they needed to voice their opinion on the inclusion of Trans Women in Female only spaces.  Myself, being a Cis-gendered woman I hesitate to speak directly on the experiences of Trans women.  I can however, comment what it looks like from my point of view living in a life as a SOFFA.  First let's define some words.

  • Cisgender - Having a gender identity that matches the gender assigned at birth. The opposite of Transgender.
  • SOFFA - Significant Others, Family, Friends and Allies of Trans People.
  • FTM - Female to Male also Trans Man.
  • MTF - Male to Female also Trans Woman
  • Gender Neutral -  Not definitive to a gender.
  • Non-Binary - Having a gender that does not fit into the two gender norm.



Now, over the last few weeks I have seen some pretty ugly statements related to Trans Women. I have even seen individuals describe them as "Trans Identified Men".  That is completely offensive. The base of the argument for not allowing Trans Women into Women only identified spaces is related to the incorrect belief that Trans Women are not women.  Or that Trans Women are somehow just men who are going through extreme measures to erase women.  Let's look at the process that a Trans Woman experiences when transitioning.

1. Mental Health Counseling - usually a requirement
2. Living as female for over a year
3. Hormone Therapy (which causes impotence)
4. Surgical procedures to turn the penis into a vagina
5. Surgical procedures to add breasts
6. Facial reconstruction
7. Electrolysis




Now, don't get me wrong, I think that people who attack you can go through some pretty long measures to do that but do you really, honestly in your heart of hearts think that a Cis gendered man, is going to go through all of that, simply to get into a women's only space and says ... Nah nah naha nah - I'm here in your space???   Seriously?

During these debates over the last few months. I've seen so much hatred towards Trans Women. They are blamed for the assaults that women experienced earlier in their lives. They are accused of "forcing" lesbians to date them pre-op and much much more.  One such exchanged can be found on this Facebook Thread - Trigger warning for Trans-phobic Language. LINK

Sometimes I think that these types of discussions are funny.  Simply because it is a bunch of Cis gendered people sitting around discussing if Trans people deserve to be in their space.  I mean when you think about it you could change the subject of this and add any power group in slot A and any oppressed group in slot B and there you have it.  Sadly this is coming from Cis Gendered women. This is sad because Cis Woman and Trans women are fighting the same fight.  Unfortunately the powers that be have managed to put fear into the hearts of Cis Women and turned them against the Trans women in an attempt to keep their hold over them.

Trans Women get raped. Trans Women get assaulted. Trans Women get discriminated against.  And Trans Women die.  Just like Cis Women.  In 2016 27 Trans People were killed in the United States. The majority of whom were Trans Women of Color. (Link)

So what am I getting at?  How does this related to my previous post regarding self care? Let's think about this for a second. When are we at our best?  When are we actually good people?  To me, the answer to that question is that we are better when we are a community.  When we come together to protect each other.  When we are a village that helps each person become stronger, happier and whole. So with our self care comes the care for others. We need to step outside ourselves and understand that we are not the be all end all of this world. We are merely a part of the puzzle.  We can choose to help create the big picture or we can get lost and leave a void.

What can you do?  How can you help?

Many times I see dialog of Cis gendered people discussing Trans people.  That's the first problem. We as Cis gendered people need to bring awareness to the cause without taking away the voices or speaking over Trans people.  This isn't about if you should allow a Trans person to use a public restroom with you.  The question is should a person be allowed to use a rest room. Change the focus of the statement from yourself to the issue at hand.  You can also get involved. Go down to your local LGBTQI center and volunteer. Get involved in a book club, volunteer to staff a booth or table at a Pride event.  Hand out flyers or help register voters at an LGBTQI Rally.

Most importantly, the one thing that you can do that will help is to listen.  Listen with the intent of understanding not with the intent of responding. Trans-phobia, Homo-phobia and Racism all come from the same place.  They are all based on fear and ignorance. Take a moment to learn about others. Embrace our differences.  Enjoy each other.  Listen.  You may find out we're not all that different.

We cannot claim to be one with the planet and one with the spirit while we continue to step on the backs of others. Take a moment, reflect. What are you doing to your people?  Would you like it if it was done to you?


Links
Trans Women of Color Collective - http://www.twocc.us/
PFLAG - https://www.pflag.org/transgender
GLAAD - https://www.glaad.org/transgender/resources
National Center for Transgender Equality - http://www.transequality.org/
National Center for Lesbian Rights - http://www.nclrights.org/our-work/transgender-law/

More information:
https://www.facebook.com/MTV/videos/10154808471696701/
http://www.lookdifferent.org/trans
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brHoyB9sNoM






The Witch's Way - My Response to Separation

Over this last week and weekend I have been really reexamining my life and how I interact with people. I was so moved by the March on Washington this weekend.  I saw people of all colors and backgrounds coming together to support the rights of women.  All woman.  White women, Women of Color, Trans women.  All women.  I was so thrilled to see it.  To hear it.  To feel it.  I have been marching a long time.  My first pride event was in 1990ish in Norfolk VA where we had about 30 people and a hibachi for our celebration.  The cops told us to get out at 5pm.  We have come a long way.  I have attended prides, protests and marches with MECA, MEUSA and volunteered my time to not only support LGBTQI people (like myself) and even work towards creating the first library at the San Diego Center and getting their LGBTQI Senior Program off the ground.  I was so thrilled to see the full range of diversity at the march this weekend.

Photo Credit - Elijah Olson
San Francisco Pride March 2006

And then the other shoe dropped.  I read about how all white people are racist .  I read how not only can I not support Trans people but also how I can't even use the word ally because I so much want a pat on the back.  I also listened to the words of the speakers at the march.  Those who have been working for women's rights for their entire lives and those who are just starting that march.  I watched friends posting their disgust at the women marching.  Saying they don't march for me.  Yelling that they were nasty vulgar girls.  Then I read about coming together and working for a cause, laying down the victimization that we can sometimes do to ourselves and actually getting off our asses and getting into the fight when you can. And then the stark reality of no matter what we may feel, we are indeed not equal.  Then last night, to top off the week a friend shares this meme.

Internet Meme


For a group of people who want the world to hear their voices, they certainly are shutting down a lot of others. I was molested by a family member from age 5 until I ran away from home at 15. The last 3 years of that was with full penetration sex.  No condoms.  No choice for me.  Yet, this "friend" thinks that I should have made that choice.  I just sit and shake my head at this.

I'm tired.  I'm tired of being called a bigot.  I'm tired of being told that I cannot help; I do not help and then being yelled at for not helping.  Today's social justice warriors (SJW) have made it so difficult to even try to support them and I FUCKING FIT IN THE category.  As a lesbian woman, I have a voice and yet, I'm told by speaking I'm silencing a lesbian PoC.  Today I read a post that said Susan B. Anthony was a racist. I read her story many times and felt that because she was an abolitionist, she would not have been racist. Then I realized we are doing the same thing here that the SJW are doing to the movie Boy's Don't Cry.   By today's standards many of the things that she said would be considered racist.  Just as the choice to place Hillary Swank as Cis Female actress in the role of Brandon Teena, a trans man brought protests by our young SJWs actually shouting hate and violence at the director.  At the time this movie was made there were little to no exposure to Trans people who were opening acting in films.  I believe that this file was a benchmark in opening up what really goes on in the lives of some Trans people and was a very well made film.  The rape scene was a bit too graphic for me, but that is a personal choice.   Hillary Swank did an amazing job and it was really well done. Today, I would prefer to see a trans person playing the role of Brandon.

So what does that leave us with?  What do we have?  What can a middle aged white cis lesbian feminist pro choicer witch do to help support the rights of others?  Sometimes we cannot join the marches do to disability, economics or location.  Sometimes we cannot join groups that fight for the causes we want because the very groups we want to support frankly just don't want our support.  They tell us that repeatedly with their words and actions.

So what can you do?

You be you.  Help those individuals around you that you can.  Be happy.  Be positive. Try not to let them get you down.  Support your local shelters or food banks.  Go down to the library and volunteer to read books to the kids or help clean up for a book sale.  Reach out to your local planned parenthood clinic and offer support.  Check out the local cancer center and see if someone needs a ride to and from their treatments.  Do what you can to make the world around you a better place.  Hold your values high and don't let anyone ever tell you are anything other than a wonderful person who was put on this planet to help those who cannot help themselves.  Become your own hero.  Become someone who can take on the world, or maybe even just a little piece of it.  There will be those that will read this post as some sort of whine.  There will be those who always need to be the victim.  You have the choice to sit back and play into that victimization or take the world by the horns and make it a better place.  I have room on my team, and everyone is welcome to play.


Internet Meme



Note: There are a lot of links embedded in this post.  I recommend taking the time to follow up on as many of them as you can. 

TDOR 2016

https://www.glaad.org/tdor


Today we remember all those Trans people who have been taken from us this year.  The violence against our Trans family seems to be increasing.  This election has many of us afraid.  Afraid for our LGBT, Women and POC.


Take a moment today and reflect on those lives lost and what you can do to put an end to anti-transgender violence.

Let's see if we can make that number go down next year.


To see the list of names of those lost - click here.



Resources

http://transgenderlawcenter.org/
http://www.nclrights.org/
http://www.itgetsbetter.org/


Feminism & Transphobia

Today I found a share in my news feed on Facebook related to a project that is looking to raise money. At first glance it appears to be a group of female goddess worshipers looking to increase the rights of women.  Then I dug a little deeper.  First I checked out their fundraiser page which you can find here.

Then I began to investigate what exactly they stood for.  What is female erasure? According to the site, it is where women are being erased due to misogyny and apparently trans equality.

From - http://www.femaleerasure.com/

I started doing a bit of google searching and found some interesting information from Circle Sanctuary back in 2012 related to Trans-women at Pagan events.

Here are a couple of the discussions.







Some years back there was a big issue at an event in California related to Trans-women not being allowed to attend ritual held by Z Budapest.  This site outlines some of the issues with Z and directly discuses her Trans-phobia.





In my hours of research and reading some of the writings of Z, I found a term called TERF.  TERF stands for Trans Exclusionary Radical Feminist.  Yeah, you read that right. How is Trans-phobia a feminist issue? According to Sable Aradia, it isn't.  And I agree with her.  However there is something that threatens womanhood by allowing women who were born as men to become who they are.  And apparently so much so that there are actually groups out there who are doing what they can to "expose" them.  One such site is called Gender Identity Watch.

From their site:

https://genderidentitywatch.com/


So here's my question.  Why do these women feel the need to take some measures to exclude Trans-women from their events?  I'm not really sure I get it.  To this day I do not understand how my life is impacted by the way another person identifies.  When I get up in the morning, I'm me.  No matter if a gay person is up, a trans person is up, I am still me.  If two men get married, my marriage is still mine.  If a biracial couple have babies, it doesn't impact me.  Why do so many people spend so much of their time hating on other people?  What's with all the name calling and being ugly to each other? I just don't get it. Maybe some out there feel threatened by a transition.  Not sure how.  It is pretty sad if you feel your life is threatened because someone had surgery to become who they are inside.  I mean shouldn't we support and celebrate those who are finally able to live out of the closet? To be who they are and support their right not to be beaten over it.  While I do not believe that being Trans is the same as being lesbian or gay, as these are related to sex, Transgender is not.  It is gender.  Gender and sex are different.

Until each of us calls out those who would seek to hurt others by using derogatory speech, creating events that are exclusive, or making people believe that Paganism is a group set on the basic male/female gender roles we will always be faced with these problems.  When you hear someone using slurs or calling names, dehumanizing others, take a moment to speak up.  Take a moment to say, hey, that's not right.  Work for inclusive events that will allow for all of us, each and every one of us to be able to join together in intelligent discussion and debate.

From Jennifer Finney Boylan's Article - The T-Word.

The use of the word is made more complicated by the fact that some people in the transgender community use the word themselves, in a manner reminiscent, perhaps, of the way the “N” word is used by some African Americans. Younger people, in my experience, as well as people in the drag community, are more comfortable using it than transsexuals. For some trans folks, it’s an attempt to reclaim a slur and redefine it with pride and ownership. RuPaul, America’s most famous drag queen, uses it with abandon; so does Kate Bornstein, our most respected genderqueer activist.

What we have to remember is that we need to remember how we are using the word. How are we treating others.  If our intent is to slur and to dehumanize, then you're using a slur.  Plain and simple. Some have taken to using slurs as a way to take the power back.  Using words such as Fag and Dyke. However I don't believe that one can take back the power of an oppressor by using their language.

I watched an interview with Dr. Maya Angelou regarding the reclamation of the N word. I found her theory resonated with me and I embraced this take on it.



I follow another free thinker on YouTube called the1janitor.  He gives a very eloquent editorial on the use of the N word. I highly recommend subscribing to his channel and checking out his other videos.





So to wrap this up, I guess my main point was to just get it out there that we can nip this crazy in the bud by just being the open honest people that we are.  Let those who want to be trans-phobic be alone over to the side and those who can welcome others into their community do so.  Those who can be caring and loving, do so. Those who can see the struggles of others and can honor that energy within them that gets them to the next day, do so.  The Trans Community has so much going against them already, do they really need this too?

By the way, if you're in NC ....  #illgowithyou




Get the button - Link
Facebook Page - Link
Twitter Page - Link


Recommended Reading:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alexandra-billings/in-a-word-tranny_b_5523090.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/delia-melody/casual-transphobia-in-my-_b_8462272.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dana-beyer/anti-trans-slurs-drag_b_5022301.html




TDOR2015


http://www.glaad.org/tdor
http://tdor.info/


Transgender Day of Remembrance

This week my Throwing Thursday post will be silent.  I've decided to skip that in recognition of The Transgender Day of Remembrance.  

Each year members of the Trans* community are singled out simply based on the fact that they are gender non-conforming.  The are often raped and murdered simply for being who they are.  This year 226 people have been killed.  Today is a national day of remembrance for those who have lost their lives to hate and violence of bigotry.

I light candles to honor the memory of those who have been taken too soon.  May they guide your way to the next realm.


Photo Credit - Renee Sosanna Olson



Earlier this week the world lost an phenomenal voice for Trans-activism.  Author, activist, revolutionary communist, lesbian and human, Leslie Feinberg passed away on the 15th of this month from complications associated with Lyme Disease.   Leslie was in the company of  spouse Minnie-Bruce Pratt.  Their work associated with the rights of the disenfranchised all over the world was immense. Leslie gave notice to the world that no voice should be silenced.  With books like Stone Butch Blues and Transgender Warrior, Leslie shared life experiences and strength with the nation that shined a light on the inner workings of someone left on the outskirts of our society.  Leslie's work carried many through hard times in their lives and was an inspiration to me on a personal level.  The voice, the imagery and the action will certainly be missed.



"Feinberg preferred to use the pronouns she/zie and her/hir for herself, but also said: “I care which pronoun is used, but people have been disrespectful to me with the right pronoun and respectful with the wrong one. It matters whether someone is using the pronoun as a bigot, or if they are trying to demonstrate respect.”



Photo Credit - Leslie Feinberg - Image in the Sun
www.transgenderwarrior.org



Information on Leslie Feinberg
http://www.transgenderwarrior.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Feinberg
http://transgenderlawcenter.org/archives/11216


Information on Transgender Day of Remembrance

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_unlawfully_killed_transgender_people
http://tdor.info/
http://nsrap.ca/community/tdor
http://www.transrespect-transphobia.org/en_US/tvt-project/tmm-results/tdor-2014.htm
http://www.glaad.org/tdor
http://standingonthesideoflove.org/resources-for-hosting-an-international-transgender-day-of-remembrance-event/


Come Out Come Out Where Ever You Are.

National Coming Out Day is a day that celebrates all those who are coming out of the closet as LGBT people.  Founded in 1988 it was started on October 11th to celebrate the 1987 LGBT National March on Washington.

As many movements due, it started out slowly but then steadily grew to incorporate all 50th states as well as seven countries in 1990.

We celebrate this day as a way to tell others of our status to show them that we are not different from them.  We get up, we take care of our kids.  We go to work.  Just like they do. 

Recently I saw a quote that said:
 “Gay Pride was not born of a need to celebrate being gay, but our right to exist without persecution. So instead of wondering why there isn't a Straight Pride movement, be thankful you don’t need one.” ~Anonymous

As a lesbian, I look forward to the day when we no longer need a pride movement.  A day when we can all just look at each other and accept who we are without making judgments based on gender, race or religion.

HRC wants to know your story.  Check out the video below and if you'd like, share your coming out story with them here.





In celebration of closet doors flinging open around the world Sosanna’s Closet Etsy Shop is offering 25% off all purchases over 60.00 on Etsy with coupon code NCOD2013. 

Come out come out where ever you are!
Blessings
Sosanna

)O(

Showing Support for TDOR



Here are a few links

Wipe Out Transphobia - Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/wipeouttransphobia

LGBT Center  - Raleigh - Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/lgbtcenterofraleigh

LGBT Pagans - Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/groups/286717344729769

Raleigh Fruitcakes - LGBT/Pagan - Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Raleigh-Fruitcakes/175056725853513

TDOR Wordpress - http://www.transgenderdor.org/

Those lost to Trans Violence in 2012 

T is for Trans Acceptance - Pagan Blog Project 2012

T is for Trans Acceptance

Back in February I wrote a post regarding Trans Acceptance in the Pagan Community.  The article contained stats like the following:


GLAAD (http://www.glaad.org) lists the following statistics:
  • At least one transgender person is murdered every month; and several more are assaulted
  • 55% of transgender youth report being physically attacked
  • Nearly half of young transgender people have seriously thought about taking their lives, and one quarter report having made a suicide attempt
  • More than half of transgender and gender non conforming people who were bullied, harassed or assaulted in school because of their gender identity have attempted suicide.
Even though Pagans are know for being open minded when it comes to sexual identity and does include LGB members, it would seem some of us have issue with the T.

For example, some followers of Dianic Wicca generally welcome lesbian pagans but close their doors to Trans women.  My understanding behind this rule is that there is a need for a sacred safe space where “female bodied” women to join together and conduct rituals for the Goddess.  This “safe space” needs to be free of any “male” energy that may make the members feel threatened.

This assumes that trans women, are "like" men or to push to the fullest extent "ARE" men.  I would like to think that others would let me live as I wish to live.  I know in my brain that I am female, if someone came along and said, you know, you don't wear makeup and you don't get your nails done.  Therefore you are not a girl.  That would be a huge deal to me.  Someone outside my brain cannot tell me what's in my brain.  And out of respect, please don't call me Sir!

I completely understand the need for a safe space.  I understand the need to protect a group from an attack. But to assume that only "males" attack or only "testosterone" causes attacks is in my humble opinion ignorant.  A woman can kill just as easily as a man.

I believe that we should treat others with respect and understanding.  We should reach out to those in need and we should take others as they present themselves until we are shown different.



Namaste & Blessed Be
Sosanna

Day of Silence - April 20th


Tomorrow, April 20th is the Day of Silence.  The Day of Silence is a day in which students across the country take a pledge not to speak in order to call attention to the silencing effect of the bullying of LGBT in school.  It was founded in 1996 at the University of Virginia.  Over 8,000 middle and high schools, universities and colleges participated.

My first experience with the Day of Silence was a bit of a eye opener for me.  My daughter participated in the event at her high school when we lived in California.  She attended Poway High School and was interviewed by the Gay and Lesbian Times as well as other media sources after her fellow student Chase Harper, decided to verbally attack the students taking part in the action.  Harper subsequently sued the Poway Unified School District when he was asked to remove a shirt that had tape on it that read:

 "I will not accept what God has condemned" and "Be ashamed, our school embraced what God has condemned." On the back of the shirts were handwritten: "Homosexuality is shameful, 'Romans 1:27.'"

My daughter arrived home that day in complete distress.  She had adults on school grounds handing out booklets that told her that her mother was a bad person.  No child should have to be made to feel ashamed and worthless over something that their parents are. 

This is why I choose to be silent on the 20th of April.  I'm posting this today to ask that if there are those out there that can take part.  Please try to do so.  Show the young people participating in this day that we support their right to do so. 

I'm also taking part in the Pagan Blog Project 2012.  Our letter for this week was H.  I've decided for this week, I'm going to use the letter H for HUSH.  So for tomorrow, this blog will be silent.

Namaste & Blessed Be
Sosanna
)O(

Trans Acceptance in the Pagan Community

Over the last few years we’re seeing legislation change to extend protections and rights to the Transgender Community.  Events such as the Transgender Day of Remembrance (http://www.transgenderdor.org/) bring the spotlight on just how much this community has suffered at the hands of the masses. 

GLAAD (http://www.glaad.org) lists the following statistics:

  • At least one transgender person is murdered every month; and several more are assaulted
  • 55% of transgender youth report being physically attacked
  • Nearly half of young transgender people have seriously thought about taking their lives, and one quarter report having made a suicide attempt
  • More than half of transgender and gender non conforming people who were bullied, harassed or assaulted in school because of their gender identity have attempted suicide.


So the over all message here is that Transgender individuals are not welcomed or accepted in general. They are outcasts and looked down upon. 

What about the Pagans?  They accept everyone, right?

Overall the Pagan community is a pretty accepting community. They generally are a live and let live group.  Pagans usually are accepting of alternate family structures such as families headed by Gay or Lesbian couples.  Many cite the “Charge of the Goddess” which says “All acts of Love and Pleasure are My ritual”. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charge_of_the_Goddess)  This view is also found in some Native American cultures, such as the Lakota, Crow and Cheyenne, where these individuals are celebrated as “Two-Spirited” people. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Two-Spirited)  They are given special roles in the tribe such as healers, medicine people, fortune tellers and matchmakers to name a few.

Many branches of Wicca specifically have individual beliefs based on what they feel is respecting the God and Goddess prospectively. For example, many believe that focus on the “Great Rite” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Rite)which celebrations the male/female union is essential within Wicca Culture and can really only be celebrated by “biological” males with “biological” females. 

Some followers of Dianic Wicca generally welcome lesbian pagans but close their doors to Trans women.  My understanding behind this rule is that there is a need for a sacred safe space where “female bodied” women to join together and conduct rituals for the Goddess.  This “safe space” needs to be free of any “male” energy that may make the members feel threatened.

This is where I beg to differ.  At what point does the Trans woman become an aggressor to this event?  What does she do that makes the other members of the tradition suddenly become threatened?  Transwomen are attacked just as “Genetic Women”.  (http://bit.ly/x7lSCB)  Trans women can worship the Goddess, just as women worship the Goddess and as men worship the goddess.  I understand the need to be surrounded with like minded people; however I do not understand the thought process behind stopping Trans women from participating in a public ritual, in a public area such as the recent events at Pantheacon (http://pantheacon.com/wordpress/); where in a public forum trans women were singled out and  advised not to attend a Dianic ritual from the description for the event which included the statement, “Genetic Women Only”.

So what do we do?  Do we ask leaders of Dianic covens to allow Trans women to participate?  Do we request that events where Dianic rites are held to stop the discrimination against an entire group of people based on their assumption of other’s gender roles?

There’s no easy answer here. We do not want individuals coming into our covens or our circles and telling us who we have to worship with.  I have a very personal example of this.  I joined a group and felt connected to many of the members, however there were some that I just couldn’t connect with.  I didn’t ask the group to remove those members.  I left the group. It just wasn’t a good fit for me.  No one wants to stop Dianic covens from continuing their worship.  I would like to offer the following thoughts.

We are the same in the eyes of the Goddess.  We are accepted and we have a relationship, not a religion.  We have the ability to think freely and to accept those around us at their face value.  Is this person coming to your coven true of heart?  Is she seeking her Goddess in perfect love and perfect trust? 

These are the questions that should be on the application to join a group; not the question, are you a “biological female”.

Namaste & Blessed Be
Sosanna


Lawfully Wed

The idea that two people are joined together in marriage is a pretty simple one. Applicant A signs a paper and provides ID, Applicant B signs a paper and provides ID. They are given a license and they marry. From that point forward they are granted over 1000 rights and benefits from that joining.

Everything from visitation in the hospital to death benefits are granted with that tiny slip of paper. That being said, what if you found out that in the event of your death, your mother who hates your husband or wife would be able to go to court and say, you know what... they're not "really" married and a judge would then say ... You know what... fine I agree, they're not married. Your spouse then loses all rights. They take away the death benefits, the house, the car, whatever. Your x-spouse then joins into the lawsuit and says you know what, I should get those death benefits, because I'm the "real" spouse, I'm the widow!


Surely I must be wrong? Surely this can't happen in America. Well sleep well my non-Trans friends. Your marriage is safe and sound. Apparently this is only allowed to happen to Trans-people. Specifically Nikki Araguz, a transwoman, who's husband, a firefighter, died in the line of duty in Texas. His mother and X-wife have sued Nikki in Texas alleging that their marriage is void because Texas doesn't recognize same sex marriage, even though Nikki has completed Gender Reassignment Surgery and updated her necessary paperwork to become legally female. (Story)

So let's think about this for a moment. All those people out there that say, we don't care what they do, they can have civil unions or whatever. We just don't want them messing with marriage. Really? How about Nikki? Can Nikki have a civil union? Can she have any freaking rights that the non-trans person might have? This of course means that any trans-person no matter how long they've been their correct gender or how long they've been living in their married relationship, can at the drop of a hat have their marriage declared "Void".


VOID
–adjective
1.
Law . having no legal force or effect; not legally binding or enforceable.
2.
useless; ineffectual; vain.
3.
devoid; destitute (usually followed by of ): a life void of meaning.

That word still haunts me when the judge in the California case ruled all 4000 marriages VOID from inception. (story)


Our love has legal force or effect, it is legally binding and enforceable, it is not useless or ineffectual. Our love matters. To tell another person that they or their relationship is "VOID" is just wrong. How dare society today, with the highest divorce rates in history, politicians openly cheating on their wives and lying about it for years, having children with their mistresses and they have the utter gall to look at a loving couple and just because they maybe Trans-people or gay they are VOID.


I am appalled. I cannot put together the anger, the frustration and the shear sense of injustice that is running through my body right now. The tears running down my cheeks only confirm that this is indeed not only a travesty of justice but also a knife in the heart of every member of the LGBTQ community.


Please take a moment to talk to others that you know about Trans issues. Take a moment to discuss the LGBTQ Community and how each day a little bit of their rights are being taken away.



As long as one of us is discriminated against, none of us are free.



Hoping for a brighter tomorrow.


Namaste & Blessed Be

Sosanna
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