Quite “Best Practice”

How Queer People Can Find Their Place in Society

On 8 November 2017, the German Federal Constitutional Court issued a delayed press release on a decision from 10 October 2017: the civil status law will have to allow a third gender by the end of 2018.

The media reacts with increased coverage on people who identify as intersexual or queer. For those who are queer, it’s difficult to find a place in a heteronormative world that only knows “female” or “male”, but nothing in between.

Tom Chai Sosnik’s story shows how queer people can find their place in society, and how not only they but everyone can benefit from it. Tom celebrated his coming out as transgender in spring 2015 with remarkable aplomb – in a ceremony performed by Rabbi Tsipi Gabai at a Jewish school in California, supported by his family.

Press Release 8 Nov 2017

Order of 10 Oct 2017

bundesverfassungsgericht.de

Young person stands at the lectern and speaks. — Tom's Coming Out Speech

“This is how I came out to my community as trans.
Please share my story and my message with your loved ones.
To all those struggling to embrace their true and authentic gender or sexuality, I want you to know that if no one else accepts you, I always will.
Rest in power, Leelah.” (Source: YouTube)

The video shows Tom’s coming out speech as part of his coming-of-age ceremony. For more background information, read the in-depth Forward article by Hannah Rubin from 26 March 2015. The video is quick to watch and the article takes a bit more time, but both are well worth it!

Every now and then Dagmar Ganßloser, Digital & Publishing, dreams of a world in which the only purpose of borders is to overcome them …