Published November 20, 2008 | 
Today is the tenth annual Transgender Day of Remembrance, where we mourn those who have suffered and died for their for their gender expression. These people who were murdered are only the ones we know about.
Look at the ages: the oldest was 45. The youngest was 15.
Look at the causes of death: Shot in the head. Head battered in with a brick. Repeatedly stabbed. Stoned to death. These are not just convenience murders — a shooting to go with a robbery. These are murders of annihilation.
Being transgendered in this culture is complicated and difficult. And potentially lethal. (A transwoman is almost ten times likelier to die of murder than in a car crash. Think about that for a minute. Then go read the link.)
There is something profoundly crazy about a culture that values traditional genders so highly that people feel justified in wiping out those who don’t conform.
Remember these men and women. And do something, anything you can, to promote acceptance as equals. To stop the violence.
I’m linking to this.
Might I reproduce this? You’ve said it far better than I’ve been able to.
I knew America was sick when I watched a man in the front yard of my grooming shop kicking his labrador puppy to make him lift his leg to pee so he wouldn’t “pee like a girl”. I knew America was sick when my vet told me he’d done gender reassignment on a cocker spaniel whose owners were uncomfortable with her intersexed genitalia. They were getting her neutered anyway, but they wanted the surgery to include as much cosmetic reassignment as possible so they wouldn’t be embarrassed when they had guests over, or have to explain anything to their kids.
You half expect the people who don’t let their kids play with toys that are inappropriately coloured, or wear clothes that don’t make it obvious what the child’s sex is. People are stupid. But when they’re enforcing arbitrary gender norms on their pets, something is fucked.
I’m proud to know you. //hugs you
Please — just include credit and a link back.
Amen. And I’m trying.