2008 Woodie Awards
Campus community tries to increase transgender support
By: Steve Kunkler
Issue date: 3/12/08 Section: Campus
Members of the University community rallied outside of the Union to protest the recent increase in violence against transgender individuals.
The Rally Against Gender Violence and Hate was put together by members of Transcendence, a transgender support, visibility, education and civil rights group on campus.
Individuals held up signs that read "My Sister, My Brother, My Friend NO HATE" and pictures of people who had been killed or committed suicide because of the intolerance transgendered people face.
Pictures of transgender hate crime victims were also displayed. Cameron McWilliams, a child who committed suicide at age 10 after dealing with gender identity confusion, was among the victims.
Joelle Ruby Ryan, founder of Transcendence, said the Bowling Green community and the country as a whole need to realize the bigotry that leads to violence against particular groups in society.
Ryan also said one to two people in the United States are killed every month for being transgendered, with increasing numbers in recent months.
The victims of these violent acts can also include young adults or teens.
"It's important people know 15 and 17-year-olds are being murdered for simply being who they are," Ryan said.
Senior Joe Aufenthie, president of Transcendence, said people are too committed to their identities based on what is socially acceptable. The rally will help people in the area become more aware of the problems that face transgender individuals on a daily basis, he said.
"They should think outside the Bowling Green bubble and realize that people are dying because of gender differences and that if they are gender variant their lives are at risk as well," Aufenthie said.
Another goal for protesters was to attempt to remove a stigma and help society be more accepting of transgendered people.
Members of Transcendence were joined by others from the University and local community who support the cause of stopping violence against transgendered people.
Supporters from outside the group included Henry Koch, a Bowling Green resident, and David Ordorica, a campus minister at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, who both want to see the bigotry transgendered individuals face on a daily basis stopped.
Just because a person doesn't agree with the way a person lives doesn't mean that person should have to put up with violence against them, Ordorica said.
"I'm here to be a conservative Christian witness to the fact that we love LGBT people and stand against violence of any kind against them," he said.
The Rally Against Gender Violence and Hate was put together by members of Transcendence, a transgender support, visibility, education and civil rights group on campus.
Individuals held up signs that read "My Sister, My Brother, My Friend NO HATE" and pictures of people who had been killed or committed suicide because of the intolerance transgendered people face.
Pictures of transgender hate crime victims were also displayed. Cameron McWilliams, a child who committed suicide at age 10 after dealing with gender identity confusion, was among the victims.
Joelle Ruby Ryan, founder of Transcendence, said the Bowling Green community and the country as a whole need to realize the bigotry that leads to violence against particular groups in society.
Ryan also said one to two people in the United States are killed every month for being transgendered, with increasing numbers in recent months.
The victims of these violent acts can also include young adults or teens.
"It's important people know 15 and 17-year-olds are being murdered for simply being who they are," Ryan said.
Senior Joe Aufenthie, president of Transcendence, said people are too committed to their identities based on what is socially acceptable. The rally will help people in the area become more aware of the problems that face transgender individuals on a daily basis, he said.
"They should think outside the Bowling Green bubble and realize that people are dying because of gender differences and that if they are gender variant their lives are at risk as well," Aufenthie said.
Another goal for protesters was to attempt to remove a stigma and help society be more accepting of transgendered people.
Members of Transcendence were joined by others from the University and local community who support the cause of stopping violence against transgendered people.
Supporters from outside the group included Henry Koch, a Bowling Green resident, and David Ordorica, a campus minister at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, who both want to see the bigotry transgendered individuals face on a daily basis stopped.
Just because a person doesn't agree with the way a person lives doesn't mean that person should have to put up with violence against them, Ordorica said.
"I'm here to be a conservative Christian witness to the fact that we love LGBT people and stand against violence of any kind against them," he said.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 5
Jennifer
posted 3/12/08 @ 1:13 PM EST
I don't even know where to start with this... Obviously parents are doing a bad job of raising their children if they are "transgender." You are either born one sex or the either. (Continued…)
Cathy Worthley
posted 3/12/08 @ 2:22 PM EST
Wow! You might as well say that parents arn't doing a good job raising their children because the child was born blind. None of us asked to be born transgendered. (Continued…)
Danielle Molden
posted 3/12/08 @ 7:17 PM EST
I agree with that WOW...
jennifer it is never okay for this to happen to anyone. I think we should approach the subject like we are HUMANS- part of a group. (Continued…)
errol
posted 3/13/08 @ 12:50 AM EST
Thursday, March 27, 2008
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Olscamp Hall Room # 221
Silenced? : Speaking Up for Change at BGSU
presented by the BGSU Progressive Coalition and the Committee Advancing
Racial Equality/CARE
Have you ever felt silenced at BGSU? Do you feel there are
issues which are swept under the rug and not discussed? Are
you ready to break the silence?
Please join us for an illuminating and invigorating discussion
of hot-button issues at BGSU. (Continued…)
xrk9854
posted 3/13/08 @ 7:13 AM EST
Note to Jennifer: You sound pretty insecure to me. People born transsexual/transgendered are ordinary folks dealing with an extraordinary problem. But you don't seem to care. (Continued…)
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