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Wednesday, July 4, 2018

Declaration of Transgender Independence '18



This is not a day of just hamburgers, hot dogs and fireworks. It is a day to reflect. Men put their fortunes and lives at stake by signing a piece of paper that put the United States of America on a path to independence. If we do not speak out now, as transgender individuals we are in danger of losing the principals that the founders of this great nation envisioned. Please understand that your voice and vote matter in the same manner as the founders’ signatures.  

Rhonda Williams
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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 the 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 usurpation 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 weak prosecution is in effect, tacit approval.

*  The denied use of public facilities according to chosen gender. This represents a denial of personal privacy, dignity, and the free exercise of human rights with equal protection. 

  Defenseless young being forced by parents to endure dangerous conversion therapies aimed at correcting a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. Psychological harm is done attempting to change the unchangeable. 

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,  personal dignity, 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.







Shauna Marie O’Toole, Author
2017 additions - Rhonda Williams


Original free copies available here: Lulu 


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Never has the statement above been so relevant and important. Last year I humbly added the points on public facilities, conversion therapies and murder prosecution.  They are still revelant.

Let us be united in voicing our concerns. Let us support those that support us. Let us vote with purpose and determination.  

Send this to your elected representatives, providing notice that our social rights are important. In support, I add my signature on this Independence Day 2018. 



2 comments:

  1. I second that!

    This, though, relates to something I've been thinking more about as trans rights have been under attack over the last year or so.

    And that is "passing." Now, I am very fortunate to live in the bluest jurisdiction in one of the bluest states (Maryland). Trans rights are written into state law.

    But even with that protection, I want to move through life as seamlessly as possible. And the law alone does not guarantee safety in this age of increasing confrontation. And there are are our sisters who based on where they live don't have even the law on their side.

    So "passing" or at least blending in--both appearance and voice--unfortunately the reality can mean a trans girl's safety or not depending on the situation.

    Even though health insurance (including Medicare) has come a long way in covering trans health, we should push for additional coverage, including FFS and voice assistance. Not on any vanity or cosmetic grounds but the simple sad reality that for too many of us they are our only defense from being "outed" in potentially dangerous situations. Just my 2 cents.

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