The Fimbria controversies (Nova Roma)

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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.

Lucius Marius, having come to realise in the meantime that he was in fact transgendered, wished to have his entry in the Album Civium reconciled with the rest of his Roman life and Nova Roman experience. 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.

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 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. Too, many in leadership were uncomfortable with the whole idea of transgenderism, and were not receptive to Marius' explanations.

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]


References

  1. EDICTUM CENSORUM DE NOTA IN LUCIUM MARIUM
  2. http://www.societasviaromana.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=10444

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