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TransWoman murdered but no one cares

Posted on November 15, 2008 by Linus Posted in hate crimes, LGBTQ, transgender .

Rah. Rah. Rah.

Fight Prop 8.

Rah. rah.

Yanno. I just can’t get into it. I’ve been trying to figure out why and what is it about it that turns me off. Maybe it’s my own dislike of marriage as solely a financial contract or that it’s viewed as only between two people. What if there was someone that K and I both loved and wanted to marry? It isn’t going to be allowed. In fact, I don’t know of anywhere where multi-partnered marriage is allowed. That’s not the point. And, in fact, that’s not the issue. It’s great that there are so many voices clamoring over this injustice of not being allowed to say vows. It really is.

But.. I get this feeling that only mainstream issue that affect the LGB are examined and that anyone else is ignored. There’s so much hype done about same-sex marriage but everyone ignores the fact that a transwoman, who was seeking justice, got murdered. Why wasn’t there an outcry by the community over her? Is it because she’s not cisgendered and a POC that she doesn’t deserve attention? All those couples who wanted to get married are still there. They get to walk on, march on and chant. There is a swell of idealism.

Or maybe it’s because she was “troubled”? Because she didn’t fit the ideal of a “person” that she doesn’t matter? She wasn’t white? She doesn’t get to chant, walk or march on. She gets added to the wall of Transgender Day of Remembrance.  And then forgotten for a year. She doesn’t matter. She was just a trans POC. She was a nobody as far as the LGB are concerned.

Oh, wait, right. I’ve forgotten. It’s all about the privilege white LGB. They are the only ones who matter apparently because they have been so “wronged” in the past. Their lives face so much hardship and uncertainty because they have their homes with their jobs and they have the right to go forth to be heard. The LGB have protections in law to ensure they are not discriminated against. They can easily fight and get support for what they fight. Duanna had no one but herself. And she stood up and said no more. She took a chance. And it cost her the very life she stood up for.

She matters.

Make her matter as much as the privilege of marriage matters.

I cannot speak for trans POC. I cannot imagine the fight that has to be done to right the injustices of the past. I was born with privilege and will be afforded even more privilege when my medical transition is done. I will be granted the ultimate of privileges, that of a perceived white man. For all my wants to be viewed as me, it is one thing I do not want. But I know I will get it. And it seems so unfair when I hear from trans POC around me and what they face. But I will say that she deserves far more respect than what the LGBT community is giving her. Right now, she’s being ignored in favour of privilege of a few. And to me, that’s just wrong.

I know that many won’t care and no matter how much I rant (although I’m having difficulty today articulating it well) and rage it won’t make a difference. But perhaps we need to focus on the lives being lost by those trying to be themselves. Everyone matters, not just the privileged white.

The Tennesee Transgender Political Association is looking for donations to help cover her funeral costs. Even if it’s only $5 please make a donation. And speak out. Do not let her murder go unnoticed in this world. Please.

Rah.

Note: Kudos to Jack for putting together a more eloquant piece than me on this.

Tags: Add new tag, hate crime .
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