Transgender DOR

[Gennee]

Last night, I attended Transgender DOR ceremonies at the community center here. There were over 200 people present. A vigil was held where we all marched around the block. A few folks on the street asked what it was about.

There were speakers, words of encouragement , stories from the audience. I spoke for a couple of moments. I shared my story of transition and acceptance by family. I shared that I refuse to live in fear. I encouraged everyone to be themselves. I also read this poem that I wrote:

We are persecuted,
Yet we have perservered.
Our journey has been circuituous,
Yet we have always been.
Some have fallen,
Yet we are still standing.
My people, Arise!

I met a number folks afterwards. I shared my experiences with a lesbian couple who will be getting married. A gentleman hugged and thanked me for my testimony. This was the best TDOR event that I've been to. We paid homage to those who died this past year (221 trans people killed). It encourages me that we are moving forward. I'm happy that I participated.

[offog]

Good for you folks. BTW, what does DOR stand for?

[Gennee]

Good for you folks. BTW, what does DOR stand for?

DOR stands for Day of Remembrance.

[AlRubyx]

I actually didn't know what it meant either. :P

[Justmum]

I am so shocked that so many trans people have died in the last year.Are we talking murder here or suicide?I'm in the UK and I don't know the situation here but I hope it is better than that!

[Gennee]

The transgender people listed were murdered. Many have also committed suicide but I don't know if its listed on the stats that are kept. It should be because it is a problem among trans people

[Justmum]

Wow, you have really shocked me on that one Gennee, I had no idea of the scale of the problem! I was shocked about a recent case of a gay man murdered in Scotland in a homophobic attack, but hundreds of cases of transgender murder is terrible.
I think that things are better in the UK as, on the whole, we are known as a tolerant society.However, discrimination still exists.My daughter was quite badly bullied at school( before she came out as lesbian) but she has moved onto college now which seems to be a more accepting environment with a gay community which is still fully integrated in college life.
I suppose the situation for transgender people is even more difficult, however.Have you experienced any attacks yourself?

[Witch of Hope]

Hi, I'm Gerlinde from Germany. Right now I finished an article about LDS and Transgender. Unfortunately in German. But this quote is in English and from the church Handbook of Instructions (Issue 1999, Vol. 1):

Transsexual Operation
Church leaders counsel against elective transsexual operations. If a member is contemplating such an operation, a presiding officer should inform him of this counsel and advise him that the operation may be cause for formal Church discipline. Bishops refer questions on specific cases to the stake president. He may direct questions to the Office of the First Presidency if necessary. (p.113, PDF)

Persons Who Are Considering or Have Undergone a Transsexual Operation
Persons who are considering an elective transsexual operation should not be baptized. Persons who have already undergone an elective transsexual operation may be baptized if they are otherwise found worthy in an interview with the mission president or a priesthood leader he assigns. Such persons may not receive the priesthood or a temple recommend. (p.43, PDF File)

To me, this is clear with it:

Somebody gets to know the Mormons, and he or she want to be baptized and plans moreover a sex change surgery, he or she may not be baptized. But, if somebody has already done this step and is legally changed, he or she must undergo embarrassing interviews with the mission president or a bishop/Stake president which for their part may not decide, whether this person is baptized. Because only the prophet of the Mormons may this decission in Salt Lake City.
This procedure has led to the success, she he or she must learn that they are only 2nd class members of the Mormons, since certain rights are refused to them.
With biological women who are actually men, this means that they will never get the priesthood of the Mormons. And applies to both that they may never enter a temple. Completely being silent for neither the baptism of the dead nor the Endowment of one's own of a sealing to partners and/or children.

[offog]

A couple of weeks ago when I was at a meeting of a transgender support group, someone told us that recently a person who had just transitioned from a woman to a man was told he couldn't donate blood. Those relationships he had with men while he was a woman now count as same-sex, according to the bureaucrats with Canadian Blood Services.

Pretty f***ing stupid, eh?

[Gennee]

A couple of weeks ago when I was at a meeting of a transgender support group, someone told us that recently a person who had just transitioned from a woman to a man was told he couldn't donate blood. Those relationships he had with men while he was a woman now count as same-sex, according to the bureaucrats with Canadian Blood Services.

Pretty f***ing stupid, eh?

yes it is. Goes to show how bureaucrats (some) thik sometimes.