Since July 4,
Texas resident Nikki Araguz has not only had to deal with the death of her
husband Thomas, a firefighter, but a legal battle over the $600,000 death
benefits. Nikki is a transgender woman, and now her mother-in-law Simona
Longoria is challenging the validity of her marriage and her rights as a widow
even though the Araguzes had a marriage license.
Longoria’s case
is based on the homophobic definition of marriage as a union between a man and a
woman, which is officially recognized in Texas, combined with the state’s
definition of gender as being established at birth. Araguz has publically
acknowledged the special political significance of her case, “This is less
about money than it is about the civil rights of my husband and I to legally be
recognized as we recognized each other. …” (Washington Times Aug. 10).
Araguz’s dilemma
highlights the heartbreaking consequences of the divide and conquer tactics of
capitalism and the need to struggle against bigotry.
