If HB 235 Goes Down Today, Let It Not Go Down Quietly

On this past Saturday (April 09, 2011), the gender identity bill (HB 235) passed out of the Judicial Proceedings Committee by a vote of 7-4 this past Saturday. From Chris Geidner's Metro Weekly article Yusef Najafi on Twitter today to follow what's going on with the legislative process regarding HB 235 today.

No matter if one is for or against passage of HB 235 today, the one thing we probably all agree with is the idea that the bill should not go down quietly. The conversations in trans community started by having public accommodations stripped from this bill should be a call to action for the entirety of trans community -- we have to in the future take the destiny of trans people's civil rights into our own hands. And, I mean that in the sense of what Cesar Chavez said about people and civil rights struggles:

...there has to be someone who is willing to do it, who is willing to take whatever risks are required. I don't think it can be done with money alone. The person has to be dedicated to the task. There has to be some other motivation.

And, in the sense of what Cesar Chavez said about discouragement, and our opportunity to change the world:

It is possible to become discouraged about the injustice we see everywhere. But God did not promise us that the world would be humane and just. He gives us the gift of life and allows us to choose the way we will use our limited time on earth. It is an awesome opportunity.