It is amazing how the repercussions of hate can echo throughout a lifetime to culminate into another death of a trans-person. As far as I know Caisha (Christine), if not dead already, will be dead very soon – unless something drastic happens. I pulled out all the stops to support an end to this story that would have been beneficial instead of destructive. Christine seems to have made a decision to end her suffering in her own way and on her own terms.
While I do absolutely support suicide as a valid action to take when one is beyond physical remedy for a physical issue, I don’t support suicide as being a valid escape from the emotional suffering we generate between our own two ears. Psychological trauma can always be addressed with right views, intentions, action, effort and mindfulness.
I truly believe that the system is set up to kill transgendered people. All the resources are there to help Christine… the problem was that she is TG. All the services that are available to any other American citizen are specifically denied to transgenders just because they are TG.
Scroll down to see the picture of another TG that I knew who died last month because she was refused medical care.
I have a FTM friend who are suffering PTSD from being attacked in the Montrose two months back.
What about a month prior to that when Charlene was attacked while trying to access medical care… or what about a Unity Committee member whose face was so brutally beaten that it shredded her skin?
What about the fact the the only housing option for trans people in Houston – SEARCH – now wants the MTFs to room with the men and the FTMs to room with the women?
What about the fact that we were kicked to the curb on ENDA?
Sometimes it is overwhelming. Sometimes I weep so deeply that I feel like passing out. I wish there were more people who were willing to question cruelty – to call a spade a spade even when it is scary.
Today, I got a call from a hospital who was trying to get shelter for a young TG who had been hospitalized from being beaten. This social worker was dismayed to learn that while Covenant House will take murderers, rapists – thugs of all sorts – but that they refuse to house transgendered youth. Wouldn’t it be something if 25 of us committed to call Covenant House every other day and confront their faith-based cruelty for as long as it takes? What would Houston look like if 50 of us committed to speaking truth to one service provider (who already want to see itself as benevolent) each and every day – Just ask why it is that they actively support cruelty to transgendered people… What would Houston look like a year from now?
