*weeping*

Feb. 23rd, 2011 07:32 pm
[personal profile] teleen_fiction
Missing Trans Woman Found Dead

There are several issues here, so I'm going to try and address them one at a time and be as coherent as I can despite my surprisingly overwhelming sense of grief for someone I didn't even know.

A quote from the article: She worked with people with disabilities but also had a police record for prostitution.

It saddens me beyond all measure that they felt the need to mention her police record for prostitution in the same breath as her work with those with disabilities.  As if one negated the other.

But I forgot.  Sex workers are inherently tainted, aren't they? 

As far as her status as a trans woman and the bearing it has here, given past cases, I have to wonder if it wasn't the cause of her death.  If the person who killed her (assuming it was murder - the police report says she died of asphyxiation, but not if it was due to an outside person) did so because they found out she'd been born with male genitalia.  And it makes me think of all the people out there who think that transgender persons are under ANY obligation to disclose their status, when the leading cause of death among transgender persons is MURDER because of ignorant bigots finding out their status.

To be clear: if you think that a trans person should tell anyone that they are trans for ANY reason whatsoever, you're an asshole.  It's their business and only theirs.  Not yours.  Not mine.  Only.  THEIRS.  Period. 

I've had this argument before and I'm going to make something else clear - I'm done arguing.  If you have an opinion that differs, keep it to yourself.  While I'm normally okay with having discussions here... not about this, not today and maybe not ever again.  Not when I keep seeing stories like this because of the sort of hatred that still exists in this world that will allow a bigot to justify ending an innocent life simply because of how that person is living it.   

Again, I don't know that this woman was murdered, but given past history, it's the most likely cause of her death. 

Cross-posted to Abolish Slavery - Legalize Prostitution.

Date: 2011-02-26 08:20 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] slashmarks.livejournal.com
*hugs* This is from a stranger, so I feel a little awkward, but I think I know how you feel, being trans myself.

I found you via your comment on the lovely explosion on antitheism, and was curious enough to come and read.

Date: 2011-02-26 08:33 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] teleens-journal.livejournal.com
Hugs are always welcome, :).

And I feel a little awkward myself, as I'm not trans (though I've questioned, from time-to-time), but there was just so much wrong in this article that I didn't feel I could let it pass without comment. The sex work aspect was what affected me personally and there have been arguments (and bannings) over trans persons having a 'duty' to disclose here before, which was why I brought it up at all.

*hugs back*

Date: 2011-02-26 11:30 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] slashmarks.livejournal.com
Don't feel awkward about bringing attention to transphobia when you're not trans -- speaking personally, it's always really, really nice when someone shows that they care about us even when they aren't one of us.

Mind if I friend you?

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