On December 29, 1991, retired state judge Milton Goldman shot his son, Richard, Richard’s wife, Phoebe, and then himself. Milton Goldman shot his 40-year-old son, who had been born a biological female because, being transgender, his son identified and lived as a man. No words can really encompass the tragedy and senselessness of a father ending his child’s life over his inability to cope with that child’s gender, but that is no excuse to maintain the silence. The progressive agenda pays shamefully little attention to queer issues. Many of us still conflate gender identity with sexual orientation and gender with sex.

November 20, 2006, is the eighth annual Transgender Day of Remembrance (http://www.rememberingourdead.org/day/index.html).

The Transgender Day of Remembrance was set aside to memorialize those who were killed due to anti-transgender hatred or prejudice. The event is held in November to honor Rita Hester, whose murder on November 28, 1998 kicked off the “Remembering Our Dead” (http://www.rememberingourdead.org/) web project and a San Francisco candlelight vigil in 1999. Rita Hester’s murder—like most anti-transgender murder cases—has yet to be solved.

Do you know what “transgender” means? It isn’t interchangeable with “homosexual” and it isn’t the same as cross-dressing. Nor is it something simple, unambiguous and concrete that I can sum up for you in a paragraph or two. (Trust me, I tried.) I would rather urge you to use today to educate yourself on transgender issues. Begin with this article (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transgender) and follow some of the links at the bottom. Transgender rights are not something we can, in good conscience, remain ignorant of and silent about.

--Sandi Burtseva

Thank you for a timely reminder.

Often I consider myself blessed and fortunate to know several transgender women, and one transgender man. They are probably the most interesting, tested, loyal and strong folks that I know. One in particular is a sort of "mentor" to me, and I love her dearly. She is 64, retired, did SRS in Thailand the week before the big tsunami (scared lots of us back here), and since then is one of the most contented, peaceful, and happy people I know. 60 plus years of torment finally ended. Anyone who pursues any such need in their life does so against many odds and prejudices, but deserves great admiration for the character and fortitude they must demonstrate.

Hats off.

Anyone who has shamelessly lost their life due to self-expression is deserving of a day for remembrance and reflection.

We should all celebrate our liberated lives for what they are.

Lovingly always a friend

Z

Thank you Jesus, I did not know there was such a day but it is now on my list of days to remember.

River

It seems appropriate that

JesusA (imported) wrote: Tue Nov 21, 2006 5:48 pm Transgender Day of Remembrance

falls near to Thanksgiving. --FLO--