"Intersex and the Case of Nikki Araguz", HOUSTON 8

Firefighter Thomas Araguz died in the line of duty on July 4, 2010, but attention shifted from a fallen hero to his grieving widow Nikki. Who was this person, the Araguz family asked, and was she really a woman? If not - would the marriage still be valid? Who would get his pension? These questions prompted us to look deeper -- how do we assign "sex" to the approximately 1 out of every 100 children born each year who differ from the standard "Male" or "Female"? How do we define marriage, and those eligible in the state of Texas? And when the rulings come down in the Araguz case -- what will that do to our definition of "Man and Wife"? Guests: Nikki Araguz, widow of Thomas Araguz; Lefkothea Karaviti, MD, Professor of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine; Mitchell Katine, Attorney, Katine & Nechman L.L.P.; broadcast date August 6, 2010.

http://www.houstonpbs.org

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Houston 8
• Ernie Manouse
• HoustonPBS
• Houston
• Texas
• politics
• define
• definition
• marriage
• intersex
• gender
• male
• female
• Thomas Araguz
• Nikki Araguz
• sexual differentiation

[k3upikachu]

this shouldn't even be an issue, gay marriage should be legal anyway.

[ehipassiko]

The term transgender in the same way a Native American might identify themselves as being a human. There are many types of humans and there are many types of transgender people. Just as it would be both wrong and offensive to attempt to parse Native American people away from the human community, it is wholly incorrect and offensive to the Houston transgender community to attempt to parse intersexed people away from the transgender community. Listen to what Nikki said. In Hou we are 1 community.

[MsDallasRedhead]

@DietDrMario I'll throw up the bullshit flag also - and I AM intersexed with PA.I.S. also. It's funny how this woman leaves out the part where on her BIRTH CERT is (M). I know this for a fact. She transitioned (and I) like any "transgender m2f" would-hormones, gender reassignment surgery, etc. THE DIFFERENCE with us that are intersexed and trans women is this: Our bodies take to estrogen better than most transppl - as far as in 'changing' I cant stand when PAIS ppl try 2 sound better than tran.

[DietDrMario]

1 out of 100 kids are intersexual?

Bullshit figures.

[muwuhu]

its sad though, that they pathologize it. and deem it a "medical issue," a "syndrome."

[Death2Evil]

Fuck you, Texas rangers, you shit-kicking, stinky, horse-manure-smellin' motherfuckers, you!

[Death2Evil]

@thruthenight: Lesson learned, and BRING IT ON!!! If I get married and my husband dies, then the first thing I'm going to do is cry, but the next thing I'm going to do is clear the bank accounts and move all valuable items to my mother's house. And FLIP our govt. THE BIRD!

[thruthenight]

Good luck to her. Screw stupid ex-wife

[lydian77]

I don't consider it a medical condition, so much as a sign of environment. Other species develop into hermaphrodites when the species is faced with extinction. Sort of a last ditch attempt to save their species. It is an evolutionary mechanism. As human beings we ignore the signs.  It easier to sexually assign. Yet, the assignment is not for the child. It is for the comfort of others. For the parents so they don't have to feel shame etc... I was born true hermaphrodite 46XY. Assigned Female