The Fimbria controversies (Nova Roma)
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| − | Lucius Marius | + | By his second year, Lucius Marius had come to realise that he was in fact [http://www.apa.org/topics/transgender.html transgendered]. He regarded his condition in Roman terms as his having been born with a ''[[genius]]'' rather than a ''[[genius|iuno]]'' for a guiding spirit, and felt 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; he wished to reconcile his entry in the Album Civium with the rest of his Roman life and Nova Roman experience. Lucius Marius Fimbria regarded this action as a simple request for correction of records. |
| − | + | Longtime ally, consular and newly-elected censor L Cornelius Sulla Felix had expressed support for Marius' name-change before he took office. However, his colleague, Flavius Vedius Germanicus, resigned his own censorship shortly after Sulla'a accession. Now without a colleague and wishing to avoid the appearance of favoritism towards a friend, censor Sulla felt the need to consult the Senate on the issue. This took at least some senators by surprise, as the matter lay squarely within a censor's ''imperium,'' but they agreed to consider it. | |
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| + | The issue was not well-stated. Many senators were under the impression that Marius wanted to legally become his (male) chatroom persona, nothing more. It was thought that allowing him to do so could potentially foster the perception that Nova Roma was nothing more than an online role-playing 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. | ||
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| + | It was agreed to have former censor Germanicus meet with Marius "live" in the Nova Roma chatroom in order to gain a better understanding of the reasons for his request, as well as to get Germanicus' feedback on the matter. Consular Decimus Iunius Palladius Invictus presided over the encounter. What followed was later described by Marius as "one of the more tactless, brutal and embarrassing 'outings' in the annals of the transgender condition." The conservative Germanicus expressed hostility to the whole idea of transgenderism. The debate soured into a discussion of Marius' physical configuration; and for the conservative wing from then on, this became the only consideration of the entire issue. Former censor Germanicus' opinion (not a ruling)--delivered only in chat; never issued as an edict; never printed out, written down, or archived anywhere in any form--went down as Nova Roman legal precedent on the subject of transgender name switches. | ||
=={{2007}}== | =={{2007}}== | ||
Revision as of 18:49, 17 August 2007
Contents |
Fl. Vedio M. Cassio cos. ‡ MMDCCLI a.u.c.
An individual with long-time gender identity questions, who had been known in Roman circles for over seven years as Lucius Marius Fimbria, became interested in Nova Roma. This individual, after some indecision (chiefly religious), applied for and was granted citizenship as "Lucia Maria Fimbria", as this person 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 of this citizen's written contributions were as Lucius Marius Fimbria. This citizen was referred to by fellow-cives in the masculine.
Q. Maximo M. Minucio cos. ‡ MMDCCLIII a.u.c.
By his second year, Lucius Marius had come to realise that he was in fact transgendered. He regarded his condition in Roman terms as his having been born with a genius rather than a iuno for a guiding spirit, and felt 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; he wished to reconcile his entry in the Album Civium with the rest of his Roman life and Nova Roman experience. Lucius Marius Fimbria regarded this action as a simple request for correction of records.
Longtime ally, consular and newly-elected censor L Cornelius Sulla Felix had expressed support for Marius' name-change before he took office. However, his colleague, Flavius Vedius Germanicus, resigned his own censorship shortly after Sulla'a accession. Now without a colleague and wishing to avoid the appearance of favoritism towards a friend, censor Sulla felt the need to consult the Senate on the issue. This took at least some senators by surprise, as the matter lay squarely within a censor's imperium, but they agreed to consider it.
The issue was not well-stated. Many senators were under the impression that Marius wanted to legally become his (male) chatroom persona, nothing more. It was thought that allowing him to do so could potentially foster the perception that Nova Roma was nothing more than an online role-playing 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.
It was agreed to have former censor Germanicus meet with Marius "live" in the Nova Roma chatroom in order to gain a better understanding of the reasons for his request, as well as to get Germanicus' feedback on the matter. Consular Decimus Iunius Palladius Invictus presided over the encounter. What followed was later described by Marius as "one of the more tactless, brutal and embarrassing 'outings' in the annals of the transgender condition." The conservative Germanicus expressed hostility to the whole idea of transgenderism. The debate soured into a discussion of Marius' physical configuration; and for the conservative wing from then on, this became the only consideration of the entire issue. Former censor Germanicus' opinion (not a ruling)--delivered only in chat; never issued as an edict; never printed out, written down, or archived anywhere in any form--went down as Nova Roman legal precedent on the subject of transgender name switches.
L. Arminio Ti. Galerio cos. ‡ MMDCCLX a.u.c.
Censors M. Octavius Gracchus and C. Fabius Buteo Modianus issued the following edict:
EDICTUM CENSORUM DE NOTA IN LUCIUM MARIUM FIMBRIAM [1]
EDICTUM CENSORUM NOVAE ROMAE
We, the Censores of Nova Roma, do hereby withdraw any Nota issued against the former citizen Lucius Marius Fimbria, who was then called a name distasteful to him, who is now known as Aldus Marius Peregrinus, and who is a thoroughly Roman person, though not presently a citizen of Nova Roma.
We condemn this misuse of a Nota to punish a citizen for a harmless prank that would have otherwise been swiftly forgotten. We condemn this Nota as an act which led to the fragmentation of the community of Rome.
The Nota is withdrawn, cancelled, annulled, voided, repudiated and despised by us. The former citizen Lucius Marius Fimbria is declared cleared of all wrongdoing, as far as this is within the power of the Censores to accomplish, and invited to return with a clean and unspoiled record.
We hereby issue an official apology to Lucius Marius Fimbria on behalf of the Office of the Censores of Nova Roma.
Having now revoked the Nota issued in MMDCCLIII, we, the Censores, now ask the Senate to officially revoke the reprimand against the former citizen Lucius Marius Fimbria.
M. OCTAVIUS GRACCHUS, CENSOR.
C. FABIUS BUTEO MODIANUS, CENSOR.
pridie Kal. Februarias MMDCCLX a.u.c.
Aldus Marius Peregrinus replied in a likewise reconciliatory manner. [2]
