Who Can the Intersex Marry? Judge Invalidates Marriage And Denies Death Benefits to Widow Of Firefighter Killed On Duty (legal, school)
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We like to think that human sexes only come in two flavors - men and women. However, somewhere between 1%-2% of the population is born intersexed - neither male nor female, but some intermediate sex. It's about as common in humans as red hair. Who should the intersexed be allowed to marry? Anybody? Nobody? Just other intersex? Should they should be assigned a sex (either by a court, doctor, parent, etc) and forced to live legally as that sex?
There's a relevant story about this in the news right now. Nikki Araguz was born with Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome - in a nutshell Nikki is genetically male (XY chromosomes), but is hormonally female. Nikki developed both male and female sex characteristics (breasts, female pelvic structure, and an underdeveloped penis). Nikki's penis never developed beyond that of a 2 year old boy. Nikki was born as Justin and raised as a boy, but as a teenager started living as a women (Nikki's parents and doctors were aware of the condition from an early age and were supportive). Nikki has always thought of herself as a heterosexual woman, and in 2008 had her underdeveloped penis removed (what she refers to as correcting a birth defect).
She's churchgoing, ran for mayor, and was married to a local firefighter in her small Texas town. Her husband was killed fighting a fire in 2010. Last week a Judge ruled that Nikki is in fact a legal male and invalidated her marriage thus denying her her husband's death benefits. Do you agree with the Judge? Is Nikki a man? Is Nikki a women? Is Nikki neither? Is Nikki transgendered? Who should Nikki Araguz be allowed to marry?
They tested the DNA and make the judgement based on the results.
Do you find that proper for somebody who is gentically one sex, but is hormonally and develops as the other? What about somebody who is genetically neither male nor female (47XXY, or 46XX/46XY, or 46XX/47XXY, etc)
They were married with a piece of paper...that little piece of paper...and that's all that matters. DNA testing doesn't matter. You don't know who has been what in the past so there is no reason to question this one.
They were married with a piece of paper...that little piece of paper...and that's all that matters. DNA testing doesn't matter. You don't know who has been what in the past so there is no reason to question this one.
But..that little piece of paper is not recognized in Texas.
Kinda sad isn't it? But they chose to live in a state that didn't recognize their marriage.
But..that little piece of paper is not recognized in Texas.
Kinda sad isn't it? But they chose to live in a state that didn't recognize their marriage.
From what I can see in the OP they didn't have a "special" marriage license or anything, just a normal one. And it is the mans family who brought charges up and filed the lawsuit. Ordinarily nobody would have even questioned this marriage.
The typical ignorance you'd expect in Texas. Aren't intersex people allowed to marry in the US (I was under the impression that they can change their birth certificate under Federal Law as I have an intersex friend who considered moving to the US.)
I don't really care. Just quit trying to teach the Kindergartners about it in school!
Why shouldn't we teach kids about intersex people?
I'm my area, elementary schools have somewhere from 300 to 500 kids - which means each school has, on average, between 3-10 intersexed students. Isn't that something we should be teaching about - or at least not be afraid to teach?
But..that little piece of paper is not recognized in Texas.
Kinda sad isn't it? But they chose to live in a state that didn't recognize their marriage.
Don't you think that the fault is with the law, and not with the couple?
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