Pagan In Paradise
Over the course of the last few years my social justice work has led me to be involved in many causes. Each effort has deeply affected me in ways that I struggle to verbalize. One of these causes is Transgender rights. Working to have all of humanity recognized as sacred, valuable and deserving of human dignity is for me the very foundation of social justice.
As part of following the issues I am involved in I joined a Face Book group called “Transgender Day Of Remembrance”. The site collects and distributes stories of murders of and assaults on members of the Transgendered community. Below find a listing of the headlines from just June 2014
Ohio man indicted on six counts in robbery, murder of transgender woman
Police arrest homicide suspect after garbage truck driver finds body in Walnut Hills
Transgender activist found dead in O.C. mourned as leader
Bashed for being transgender’
Body of transgender woman found burned, dumped behind garbage bin
Guilty plea in killing of transgender woman in New Westminster
Anaheim police investigating suspicious death of transgender woman
To put this in perspective the Transgender community is about 0.030 % of the population. Frankly if such high numbers of any other demographic in America were being murdered or assaulted there would be national outrage! The fact that there is not is telling as to old stereo types that live in the subconscious of even the most progressive of our communities.
Today I urge you my readers to make this issue, your issue, stand in support of the transgendered community. Not because you know transgendered individuals, not because you are progressive in belief, but because every human being deserves the advantages of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
It is just the right thing to do!
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