9/14/13

Nikki Araguz firefighters widow denied survivor benefits, now denied a Texas marriage license

HOUSTON (KHOU) -- The transgender widow of a Wharton County firefighter, whom a judge ruled was not entitled to her late husband’s death benefits because she was born a man, is challenging Texas law once more by attempting to get married again.

Nikki Araguz, 38, was the transgender wife of Wharton firefighter Thomas Araguz. He died fighting a blaze at a Wharton County farm in 2010. His family, when they found out Nikki Araguz was born a male named Justin Purdue, challenged her rights to the benefits. They argued that the marriage should be declared null and void because the Texas Constitution effectively bans same sex marriages. A judge agreed that although Araguz had her original California birth certificate amended to show that she is now female, that Texas law goes by the original birth certificate that shows Araguz/Purdue was born male.

"This is an acceptable form of identification according to your 2009 family code but you're denying me one,” Araguz said.
"Denying it per the constitutional amendment,” Stanart said.

KHOU 11 News Legal expert Professor Gerald Treece of the South Texas College of Law says Araguz is following the same argument she already lost in court. Texas law, as was the ruling in Araguz’ original case, goes by the original birth certificate, not an amended one. Araguz’ original birth certificate shows she was born a male. Under current Texas law she would always be considered a male. Therefore the Harris County Clerk denied Araguz a marriage license based on the interpretation she was marrying another man.

The three words keeping Nikki from getting a marriage license and the Achilles heel for all of us transsexual Texans "Original Birth Certificate".

A traditional family's three year olds transition from Manuel to Manuela

At age one Manuel wanted a pink stroller. Patricia and Eduardo figured what's the harm and bought him one, but it became the only toy he would play with. His mother worried perhaps he identified too much with her so she took the stroller away and had his father become more involved him hoping this would masculine his behaviour.

But Manuel still only wanted to play with his Barbies. Patricia was devastated even admitting she felt humiliated. This is the critical juncture all trans people experience when we are embraced or estranged by our families.

Patricia and Eduardo decided to learn more and went to the Yes Institute in Miami were they learned some children are just born that way. They started calling her Manuela and let her embrace her femininity at age four.

WSVN-TV - 7NEWS Miam Ft. Lauderdale News, Weather, Deco

This is a great article by Lynn Martinezand can be read at VSVN 7News Miami Florida.

YES Institute:
YES.Institute on facebook and on twitter @YES_Institute.


9/13/13

North Carolina Transgender College student considering quitting due to death threats

Vishon Murphy a transgender student at Edgecombe Community College told WNCN that constant harassment, bullying and death threats have forced her to consider dropping out of school.

She said people have spit at her, thrown objects at her and have even made her run in fear for her safety. According to the colleges student handbook Ms Murphy has the right to a prompt investigation of the complaints she has made but she says that isn't happening.



Transgender people are being murdered st a rate of 50% higher than gays and lesbians even though we make up only 3% of the worlds population. And as a blogger I will attest black transgender woman make up the highest percentage of those murdered. We should be very curious to know why this institution of higher learning is allowing this murderous condition to continue on its campus.

Edgecombe Community College on facebook and on twitter @EdgecombeCC

Update: Edgecombe responds-



The facebook post on Edgecombe Community College facebook wall and the response:

Like ·  ·  · 13 hours ago near Fort Worth
  • Judithe Frances likes this.
  • Judithe Frances Why is she getting death threats? What exactly is the Administration doing, to correct this?
  • Edgecombe Community College Edgecombe Community College does not tolerate harassment of any nature toward a student or any other member of the college community.

    The Student Code of Conduct in the Edgecombe Community College 2013-2014 Student Handbook clearly defines harassment 
    and its consequences. Any student found to have committed or to have attempted to commit misconduct including “verbal, physical, or psychological abuse, threats, intimidation, harassment, coercion, and/or other conduct, including but not limited to stalking or bullying, in person or by electronic means, which threatens bodily harm to self or another person or persons in the College community or endangers the health or safety of any person,” is subject to disciplinary sanctions, which may include suspension or expulsion.

    In compliance with the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the college may not disclose information regarding its students. In accordance with FERPA, we are able to confirm that Vishon Murphy is enrolled at Edgecombe Community College.

From sex worker to teacher a Turkish Trans woman is forced back to the streets

From sex worker to teacher to sex work Sinem Kuzucan kept her dream alive.

Trans woman Sinem Kuzucan knew she was different from the other students in high school and so did they. It was very bad but she persevered with the help of a math teacher.

"I finished high school with his help and I went to Istanbul. I worked as a sex worker in Istanbul for two years. You do not have any other choice as a runaway child. You don’t have any other example either, all trans people do this. This was 20 years ago, so there were no rights or any recognized organizations. Your existence or non-existence is barely noticed. It is a dead-end."

This was before the Internet so communication between trans people was limited to personal conversations and long before the world became aware of the inhuman conditions that the Turkish government forces on their transgender citizens.

After two years of living on the street Ms Kuzucan decided she had enough, cut her hair and was accepted to a university. But even with her attempts to physically conform to the gender binary her academic studies were difficult as it was apparent to students she was transgender. They would not sit with her at the lunch table.

Her teachers were even worse. Calling her weekly to meet and slamming the door in her face. Literally.

Eventually she graduated and was employed as a teacher but this was only the beginning of her struggles..

We are taught by society that there is either man or woman. In my teaching job, even though I am a trans person, I was forced to tell the same story about the nuclear family to my students. This is how it was taught to us as well. Egalitarian legal regulations are important for transforming these discriminative attitudes. If this society is in its current situation due to monotypic laws and regulations, then it can be transformed through new regulations. We should start with the law. When it comes to trans murders, they reduced penalties on the pretext of provocation for years. In the past, trans murderers would be sentenced to two years or they would not be punished at all. Now at least they are sentenced to fifteen years. As laws become more egalitarian, society will have to adapt with time. Temporal periods are never easy.

By reading her full heart wrenching yet inspiring story here you are committing a powerful act of advocacy. You are helping to bridge the link, making sure our Turkish trans family is no longer cut off from the world by linguistics, religions or governmental oppression.


9/12/13

Audio: Transgender 11 year old, Wren Kauffman sister and mom talk about his coming out

Wren, a female to male (FTM) transgender youth has at eleven, begun talking puberty blockers and begun his life on our shared road less traveled.

Wren's sister and mother share a delightful moment with cbc.ca/news Canada talking about their shared experiences transitioning with Wren.

Wren and his families understanding of transsexualism is a triumph to those of our community who have preceded him. Be proud. You have the right to be.

Click here to listen, opens to the CBC player


Watch a tribute to Murdered Texas Trans woman Konyale Madden

Denton County sheriff’s deputies continue to investigate a possible homicide that occurred in a community-style development off U.S. Highway 380 during the weekend.

Konyale Madden, 34, was found dead in her home on Hayden Lane in Savannah Estates by friends shortly after 5 p.m. Sunday, Sgt. Larry Kish said.

Friends told the Denton Record that Ms. Konyale a Longview Texas native was a warm, lively and loving person and will miss her dearly.



Ms. Konyale's death strikes home for this blogger as she lived in the same county as I.

R.I.P Konyale Madden.

Those with information on Madden or information leading to the death are asked to contact Sgt. Larry Kish at 940-349-1665.