Appeals court rules in favor of Houston trans widow, have right to marry

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Nikki Araguz Loyd married William Loyd after the appeals court hearing on Sept. 18. The court ruled that marriages of trans people who’ve had a sex change can marry people of the opposite sex.

CORPUS CHRISTI — In a landmark decision this week, a Texas appeals court ruled that transgender people have a right to marry.

The decision came in the case of Houston widow Nikki Araguz Loyd, who was fighting to have her marriage to late husband, Thomas Araguz III, recognized by the state in order to receive his death benefits. Thomas Araguz was a volunteer firefighter in Wharton and was killed in the line of duty in 2010.

Thomas Araguz’s ex-wife, Heather Delgado, later sued to have the marriage declared void so she would receive widow’s benefits instead of Araguz Loyd. Delgado claimed that she needed the benefits to provide for her two children with Thomas Araguz.

The 13th District Court of Appeals in Corpus Christi ruled Thursday that the marriage was valid because Araguz Loyd, declared male at birth, had a sex change and her original California birth certificate amended to reflect the change.

The ruling is the first time a Texas court has ruled that transgender people have a right to marry.

More at http://www.dallasvoice.com/appeals-court-rules-favor-houston-trans-widow-10167483.html .