The Fimbria controversies (Nova Roma)

Revision as of 04:02, 8 August 2007

The Fimbria controversies

Background:

An individual with long-time gender identity questions, known as Lucius Marius Fimbria in the Roman circles s/he'd been frequenting for over seven years, became interested in Nova Roma.

Said individual, after some indecision (chiefly religious), applied for and was granted Citizenship as "Lucia Maria Fimbria", as s/he was a woman in appearance, and wanted to avoid any awkwardness in the event of a face-to-face meeting.

This Citizen otherwise functioned as a male, both within and without Nova Roma. All his/her written contributions were as Lucius Marius Fimbria, and fellow-Cives referred to him/her in the masculine.

Some years later, Lucius Marius wished to reconcile his/her entry in the Album Civium with the rest of his/her Roman life and Nova Roman experience. S/he had come to realise in the meantime that s/he was in fact transgendered, which he regarded in Roman terms as his having been born with a genius rather than a iuno for a guiding spirit, and that it was less important for his Roman name to be consistent with outward appearances than for it to be true to his soul. He requested that his registered Roman name be changed to reflect this more developed understanding of his being.

Lucius Marius Fimbria regarded this action as a simple request for correction of records.

The administration regarded it as a trivialisation of Nova Roma, potentially fostering the perception that it was nothing more than an online roleplaying game. This was a common concern at the time, as the Republic was young and still striving for respectability in the Roman world at large. Allowing a Citizen to change official gender on little more than his or her say-so was seen as detrimental to this effort. Too, many in leadership were uncomfortable with the whole idea of transgenderism, and were not receptive to Marius' explanations.

Controversy ensued.