A proud unapologetic Black trans woman speaking truth to power and discussing the world around her since 2006
In Cristan's latest video update, she lays out why we Texans have been saying to anyone who will listen why y'all peeps outside the Lone Star State's borders need to be paying attention to what's happening here and ensuring that Phyllis' legal team has the resources they need besides prayer to win it.
As the Araguz case in Wharton continues to a hopefully successful conclusion for us, those of us in the Houston area GLBT community and our allies continue to fight the war against faith based ignorance, smears of Nikki Araguz, the trans community, and Faux News propaganda.Many Texans are so afraid of gay, lesbian, bisexual and especially transgender persons that what would be simple probate matters to others turn into media fodder for us.
The Nikki Araguz case going on in Wharton County is another example of how the systematic disenfranchisement of members of my community has turned one woman's private pain into a very public indignity. Firefighter Thomas Araguz died, and his wife and children would normally receive his death benefits. Perhaps like many in-laws who do not approve of their children's choice of spouse, Araguz's parents do not want their daughter-in-law to receive anything.
One day, Texas, like five other states, the District of Columbia, and many countries around the world, will grant its gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender citizens equal protection under the law, including the right to marry. When that happens, the dramas of dysfunctional families, even our families, will unfold around the dinner table, and perhaps in the quotidian business of the probate court, instead of in the media spotlight.
Let's see, for starters, TBLG civil rights has the support of people such as Julian Bond, the late Coretta Scott King, Rep. John Lewis, Dr. Joycelyn Elders, Rep. Barbara Lee, the NAACP, the National Black Justice Coalition, Kerry Washington, state Rep Senfronia Thompson....
As many of you TransGriot readers are aware of, Cristan Williams has been monitoring the ongoing Nikki Araguz trial and I've been posting her video commentaries here.On a personal note as a transwoman, I’ve gotta say that when you flippantly wrote “… no matter how much transgender activists need her case to help their worthy cause” you pissed me off.
I didn’t “need” nor did I want this case. The fact is this case WILL impact MY civil rights and define MY legal standing. Your dismissive tone seems to say to me that I shouldn’t be really concerned for what happens to my rights. Walk a mile in my sensible shoes before being so flippant about my rights as an American citizen!
As many of you following the case know, another hearing was held yesterday in the ongoing Araguz case. It was basically housekeeping stuff, so Nikki wasn't required to be here. One piece of good news out of it was that the 60K she was due to get as the beneficiary of Thomas Araguz' life insurance policy has been released to her.
One of the things that I'm seeing repeatedly pop up in posts and stories about the ongoing Araguz case inside and outside the TBLG community is this recurring meme that the 1999 Littleton v Prange case is settled Texas law. 
TransGriot Note: From the Phyllabuster mail list-first one since the trial started. 
The Houston TG Center's Cristan Williams spent the day observing and tweeting the proceedings in the Wharton County Courthouse, and explains what transpired in this YouTube video.
