Judge Dredd…er…Graves. Wait, is that better?
Ash Moore (’14 University of Oklahoma College of Law)
I promise I will try not to blog about the “gay agenda” too much. I don’t even know what the “gay agenda” is really. I think it has something to do with fabulous heels in a size 13 and Justin Bieber’s hair. However, I want to give a cent or three about a recent Oklahoma court ruling. The short and not-so-sweet of it is a Judge named Graves denied two transgender people name changes based on God, DNA, and science. He even cited Genesis 1:27-28 in the opinion.
Now, I cling to my guns and religion just as much as the next Texan but this is absurd. Aside from the Constitutional problems all of the young and idealistic law schoolers can rattle off, there’s even a huge problem with the religious argument. The old testament condones the beating of slaves to death as long as they survive for at least a couple of days (Exodus 21:20) and condemns eating shrimp, lobster, and clams (Leviticus 11:9). So, Judge Graves, unless you abstain from the aforementioned ocean delicacies and beat your slaves, join the modern age.
It’s absolutely horrifying to look in the mirror and not be able to see yourself. No matter what other people say or do, no matter how many hormones or surgeries we put to use, we spend our entire lives clawing at the inside of our own skin.
Some individuals and organizations define reproductive justice as “the right to have kids, the right not to have kids, and the right to parent the kids we have with dignity.” Ignoring an entire class of people deprives them of dignity in every aspect of their lives, especially with regard to reproductive justice.
I want to be listed as the father on my baby’s birth certificate. I want to hear my children call me Dad one day, not Mom. I don’t want trick some unsuspecting hetero into marriage, I just want to be able to hold my head up when I walk down the street and feel just a little bit better about who or what I am. I want dignity. Why do other people care? You shouldn’t care what I do as long as I don’t do it in the street and scare the horses.