Marriage equality matters to transgender people, too, such as Nikki Araguz, who lost her firefighter-husband, Thomas, The Advocate reports. Nikki sought to secure a share of his fireman’s benefits, after Thomas died battling a fire.
Nikki Araguz and her late husband, Thomas
Even though Nikki, who was born biologically male, didn’t undergo gender transition surgery until after the ceremony, she had no reason to think that their marriage wasn’t legal when they wed in Texas in 2008.
However, a judge invalidated their marriage. Marriage laws for transgender men and women, who’ve completed their transition, vary from state to state. The ruling that discarded the Araguz’ marriage—seen as rare—is being appealed.
“In the vast majority of cases, nobody has any problem,” National Center for Lesbian Rights legal director Shannon Minter said. “Nobody even questions the validity of the marriage. Now there have been a handful of cases in very conservative states that have come out badly.”
Minter said courts in certain states “have been so homophobic.”
“They don’t want to even come close to recognizing a same-sex marriage,” she said.
Photo: Advocate.com
