KNOWhomo

tyleroakley:

Rights for LGBTQ Americans, a state-by-state guide.

The Laramie Project
written by Moisés Kaufman

Dennis Shepard: My son Matthew did not look like a winner. He was rather uncoordinated and wore braces from the age of thirteen until the day he died. However, in his all too brief life he proved that he was a winner. On October 6, 1998 my son tried to show the world that he could win again. On October 12, 1998 my first born son and my hero, lost. On October 12, 1998 my first born son and my hero, died, fifty days before his twenty-second birthday.
I keep wondering the same thing that I did when I first saw him in the hospital. What would he have become. How could he have changed his piece of the world to make it better?
Matt officially died in a hospital in Fort Collins, Colorado. He actually died on the outskirts of Laramie, tied to a fence. You Mr. McKinney with your friend Mr. Henderson left him out there by himself, but he wasn’t alone. There were his lifelong friends wiith him, friends that he had grown up with.
You’re probably wondering who these friends were. First he had the beautiful night sky and the same stars and moon that we used to see through a telescope. Then he had the daylight and the sun to shine on him. And through it all he was breathing in the scent of pine trees from the snowy range. He heard the wind, the ever present Wyoming wind, for the last time. He had one more friend with him, he had God. And I feel better knowing he wasn’t alone.
Matt’s beating, hospitalization and funeral focused worldwide attention on hate. Good is coming out of evil. People have said enough is enough. I miss my son, but I am proud to be able to say that he is my son.
Judy has been quoted as being against the death penalty. It has been stated that Matt was against the death penalty. Both of these statements are wrong. Matt believed that there were crimes and incidents that justified the death penalty. I too believe in the death penalty. I would like nothing better than to see you die Mr. McKinney. However this is the time to begin the healing process. To show mercy to someone who refused to show any mercy.
Mr. McKinney, I am going to grant you life, as hard as it is for me to do so, because of Matthew. Every time you celebrate Christmas, a birthday, the Fourth of July remember that Matt isn’t.
Every time you wake up in your prison cell remember that you had the opportunity and the ability to stop your actions that night. You robbed me of something very precious and I will never forgive you for that. Mr. McKinney I give you life in the memory of one who no longer lives. May you have a long life and may you thank Matthew every day for it.

(a reblog from a post on this page on March 22nd)

Transgender History can be found as far back as the 18th Dynasty. Pharaoh Hatshepsut ruled Egypt for two decades (from 1479 to 1458 BC).

However, transgender and transsexual equality, rights and recognition have little recorded U.S. history. Sadly, the history which is supplied is met with more anger, inequality and bitter ending than hope. It’s time to change that.

Educate Yourself.

Speak Up for Others.

Create History for the Generations to Come.

For more information:

http://transequality.org/

Note from Know Homo: This blog was posted on March 22nd. — Sadly, a transgendered individual faced this very dilemma late April in Baltimore, Maryland. The attack on this woman was so violent (in the Female restroom, ironic with the post above) that she had a seizure and was hospitalized for the violent actions taken against her.

THIS MUST STOP.

World Map showing the number of trans people/transgender individuals murdered in 2008-2009. (This is only the RECORDED numbers - many members of the trans community are not noted as being transgender in records and files.)

Though these are the numbers from two years ago, the newest statistics do NOT show a decrease in numbers.