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
)O(Read Confessions of a Modern Witch
Source: pagan-wiccan.blogspot.com
