Declaration of Transgender Independence

[Chaunte]

Declaration of Transgender Independence

When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to arise and demand the political and social rights other Citizens enjoy, a decent respect to the opinions of humanity requires that they should declare the causes that impel them such.

We hold these truths to be self-evident. Regardless of gender identity, expression and sexual orientation, all people are created Equal – that they have been endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these Rights, governments are instituted among people, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to that end, it is the Right of the People to use the electorate process to change such government and institute new representation that will secure these rights and positively affect their safety and happiness.

Prudence, indeed, would dictate that representatives long in office and that have represented the people well should not be changed for light and transient causes. Indeed, experience has shown that people are willing to tolerate and suffer positions of their representatives as long as such positions are sufferable.

However, when such abuses and usurpations of Civil Liberties arise providing evidence to dehumanize any one group, it is the right and duty of the People to cast aside such representation in favor of new guardians that would secure the future and the liberties of all.

Such has been patient suffering of the Transgender Community, and such is now the necessity to replace those Oppressors with New Representation. The history of the Transgender Community is a history replete with injury and usurpation designed to dehumanize and eradicate a people within a society. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world.

* The trivializing and ridiculing of the Transgender Community before the General Populace.

* The casual abuse of the Transgender Community.

* Psychological warfare against the Transgender Community has been committed to affect a disassociation between the Community and the General Populace.

* Censure of the Transgender Community for expressing the desire to be treated with the same respect as other Citizens.

* Allowing the Abuse of Freedom of Speech to inspire and incite violence and maltreatment against transgender people.

* Deprivation of liberty against the Transgender Community.

* The committing of Murder against the Transgender Community with the purpose of eradicating an entire Community within the General Populace.


In every stage of these oppressions, we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms. Our petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. Any representative whose vote and actions have given concurrence with these oppressions is unfit to be a representative of a Free People. And, thus, must be removed from office using the electoral process to place New Representation in its stead.

We, therefore, the Transgender Community, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, declare that we are a Free People – Equal with all other citizens and subservient to none. We state now and for all time that we have the right to Fair Treatment under the Law; retention of employment and housing; medical treatment as deemed necessary and prudent; to love and marry those whom we chose and do all other acts that a Free People may of right do.

And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, our time and our sacred honor.

Signatures:

Shauna Marie O'Toole
Pam Zastrocky
Zachary T. Shay
Barbara Bouwens Miller
Planetransgender
Diana Lynn
Maur DeLaney
Kristi Boyer
Dana Kay
Gen ID
Jennifer Chavez
Zythyra Y2gender
Bonnie J. Keller
Tg Lynns Place
Hannah Equality Miller
Janet L O'Brien
Theo Zegers
Shayna C. Crisler
Mike Workman
Micah R Sylvester
Rena
Raven
Lauren Allis
Perlita Rose
CindiJames

Magz Marfione
Bonnie Torpie
Ally W. Howell, J.D., LL.M.
Shanestv
Kathleen Kennedy
Nancy DeWitt
Ken Trevean
Gillian Cameron 
Samantha Hains
Trevor Hansen
Susanna Iris Astarte
Josie Leonard

copy, paste, add your signature and pass it on. Don't forget to keep the signatures that come before yours!

[Janet_Girl]

I would like to add my name to the list.

Janet L O'Brien

[Chaunte]

Added with my thanks!

[Chaunte]

Wow...  The silence is powerful...  Nothing but crickets...  Kristi, Janet and myself are the only signatures?

Is anybody there?  Does anybody care?

[LordKAT]

sorry Shauna, I just now saw the thread. Feel free to add me to that list.

[Cindy]

 Sorry Shauna,
I've just seen this after Ken replied. Please add my name to this. The thread?post may have got misplaced, first time I have seen it.

Hugs

Cindy James

[Flan]

hmm...
ok, add me in (although to be honest, I don't see much progress until infighting is resolved, same problems decades ago with different paint).

[Octavianus]

I am very sorry, but I don't really see where you are going with this text.
We are all equal under the law (at least in my country). What really needs to change is the attitude of people towards each other. I don't think it is as wise to go as far as to restrict other peoples freedom. Everybody is entiteled to his or hers opinion how unrational as they mey be. As long as they don't hurt other people in a physical or verbal way. Violence and discrimination is where I draw the line.
I think that all the hate originates from ignorance, fear from the unknown and religion. The only way I think this can change is by getting in touch with those people.
Maybe it is an idea to set up a school program. Get in contact with children and answer all their questions. There is also a part to be played by the media. As long as they portray a bad stereotype, people will use this to confirm their prejudice. I remember a TV show from a couple of years ago folowing high school students on their preparation of the final exams. One of those children was a mtf transsexual. The entire show was presented in a very neutral and unbiased way and included scenes of daily life and interviews with friends. I think the opening line went like this: "Her parents and friends understand her transition, now it is up to the rest of the country".

There is much that can be done to make other people understand you better. And although I support your case, I don't think adding my name to a declaration of indepence is not going to change things as they are at the moment.

[Chaunte]

Asking what I am going to do with this text is a fair question, Octavianus.  Thank you.

The back story is this...

A little over a week ago, I was engaged in an "energetic discussion" on Facebook in regards to activism for trans rights.  It was a good discussion - not snipping at one another but looking at what we as a community could do.  Someone said that we we need is some sort of statement or declaration stating clearly what we want and demand.  A number of people, included myself, agreed with this idea.

Besides being a high school science teacher, I love to write.  I couldn't pass up the challenge.  Thus the remix I submitted here and other places.

What I can tell you is that people are starting to copy this Declaration, adding their name and passing it along. 

I have been asked to present this Declaration to the Trans Strategy Conference in California mid-September.  This conference is a gathering of PAC's and activist groups from around the country working on transgender equality.  The thought is that this document may become our mission statement.  Or at least a mission statement.

I know that this is a remix of what Thomas Jefferson wrote back in 1776.  I took one of the most moving texts in the history of Liberty and turned it into something that directly reflected our needs.

The more people who sign, the more weight this will carry.

I know that there will be people who will refuse to sign for any number of reasons.  I respect that and won't force anyone to sign. 

What I know is that this offers me a way of furthering our fight for freedom and equality.

[Octavianus]

Thank you for your explanation. It has been a long time since I read the original declaration of independance since I am not a citizen of the United States.
But didn't Jefferson write that all men are created equal and have the right of life, liberty and to pursue happyness?

In other words, you already have the declaration. But what needs to be done its to let people live up to this declaration, just like Martin L King said in his famous speech:

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal."

[Chaunte]

Thank you for your explanation. It has been a long time since I read the original declaration of independance since I am not a citizen of the United States.
But didn't Jefferson write that all men are created equal and have the right of life, liberty and to pursue happyness?

In other words, you already have the declaration. But what needs to be done its to let people live up to this declaration, just like Martin L King said in his famous speech:

Octavianus, I agree that we do already have the declaration.  What I have found is that, at present, much of American society is taking a very narrow view of many documents.  If all MEN are created equal, what about women?  It is a recent and sad truth of the county I have chosen to call home.

Thus the remix with inclusive language.  That all people are created equal.

[Raven]

Can someone add me to the list? My crazy internet...

[gennee]

Shauna, would you kindly add my name to the list?

Gennee