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 t...he 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.
THE DECLARATION of TRANS EMPOWERMENT
We hold these truths to be self evident:
Human Rights, Civil Rights, Equal Rights Are For Everyone!
Homeless People Included!
Not just for Straight White Men,
Not just for feminists
Not just for peoples of color
Not just for Lesbians, Gays & Bisexuals
Transsexual, Transgender, Intersex
& All Gender Diverse People!
We are not the Last Words in Your Revolution!
We are not an afterthought for your generosity in victory
We refuse to depend upon the kindness of less than perfect strangers!
We are not subservient to Your Dreams
And you will not defer and delay Our Dreams
So that Lesbians, Gays & Bisexuals can be the first among less-than-Equals!
We will not have our history denied, erased, borrowed or stolen to serve an L G & B or Cisgender agenda without consultation
Nor will we be labeled, gendered, degendered or regendered and we will not be sexualized, desexualized or resexualized to that end!
We will not be made into victims of trans-misogynistic gay or straight, cisgender establishment media, where we are depicted as caricatures of women and not even human beings and where media exploits the blood and the suffering of us as victims of violence as comedic entertainment.
We will not serve in any Coalition organization where we are not made to feel welcome, where we can never lead, where we must remain invisible or silent and where we are regarded as less than full and equal partners!
L G & B Separatism "Separate But Equal" is Not Equality!
It is Transphobic Exclusion, Prejudice, Bigotry & Apartheid!!
In Separatism There Is No T in L G B T Unity!!
We are the First Words in Our Revolution!
We will form Our New Coalition of Friends that our outside, above and beyond the Box you tossed us into!
We will take the Lead in Our Revolution and We will never be less than Full & Equal Partners
Our Rights-- For Our Dignity & Respect
To Be Welcome & Accepted
Our Marriage & family Rights
Our Right to Work, Housing & Safe Shelter,
Health & Health Care, Safety & Well Being
Are just as Important to Us and We Will Not Be Denied Our Rights to Life, Liberty & the Pursuit of Happiness!
That Includes a Trans-Inclusive Employment Non Discrimination Act (ENDA) &
the End of L G & B Separatist Apartheid!!
No More Exclusion of Trans Women & Trans Men by Lesbian Gay & Bisexual People & Organizations!
Any Organization that Endorses & Supports such Exclusion shall be Boycotted, Sanctioned & Banned!!
Today is the Day & Now is the Hour for Our Rights!
We Will Enable & Achieve Our Own Empowerment!
We have Earned Our Victories & Your Respect!
Our Revolution is Here! It Might Even Be Televised
What We Require is Our Own Stonewall!
We Must Storm Our Own Bastille!
We Must Take On & Overcome Our Oppressors Because Our Cause is Just!
We Must Nail Our Message to the Doors Where We Are Locked Out!
If at First We Don't Succeed.... Try Try Again!!
If at Last We Don't Succeed.... Secede! Secede! Secede! Then try again!
Originally attributed to: Teresa Ellen Reeves