Nikki Araguz (KHOU photo)

THE GUERRILLA ANGEL REPORT — [UPDATE -3 Jan. 25, 2012 — see below.] A judge recently ruled Nikki Araguz’s marriage to Captain Thomas Araguz was not valid because she was born a man, making her ineligible to receive $600,000 in her husband’s death benefits. — KHOU-Houston

Araguz, of Wharton, Texas,  is going to appeal that decision. Her husband, a firefighter, died last year in a fire in which there were mistakes made leading to his death. Araguz’s husband’s family is arguing the money needs to go to them on behalf of the two children he had with his ex-wife. Attorneys say the benefits will not be likely be released until the appeals are over.

In somewhat related news, Nikki Araguz was recently arrested on felony thief charges. She has stated to be working on a movie and book and movie deal. There is also talk of a reality show.

via Transgender widow of Wharton Co. firefighter appeals decision that marriage was invalid | khou.com Houston.

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UPDATE-1 Jan. 14, 2012 – Nikki Araguz was tossed in jail for showing up late for her plea bargain on the unrelated thief charges . . . http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Transgender-widow-jailed-for-tardiness-2518757.php

I wish Nikki Araguz would refrain from courtroom antics. Whether one agrees or not, JUDGES rule their courtroom. I want Araguz be successful with her death benefits case, so I hope she can quietly resolve her thief charges without making any more headlines.

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UPDATE-2 Jan. 18, 2012 – I find it interesting that the Harris county jail first used her male birth name (not her legal female name) when she was first detained on Friday then later withdrew the name and currently has no name listed for her at all. While I won’t speculate what the Harris county sheriff’s department is up to, but I will say that playing this dubious “male, no, female, no, neither” game is a lawsuit in the making. Yes, this could have been avoided easily if Araguz assumed a bit of personal responsibility, but this doesn’t give the judicial system in Harris county the go ahead to play games.

http://www.dallasvoice.com/araguz-booking-raises-questions-harris-county-jails-treatment-transgender-inmates-1098896.html

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UPDATE-3 Jan. 25, 2012 — Houston judge sentences Araguz to 50 days in jail for the thief charge: http://www.chron.com/news/article/Transgender-widow-sentenced-to-50-days-in-jail-2699004.php

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Categories: Discrimination, Equality, Civil Rights, Transgender, Transsexual, Trans

Tags: firefighter, Harris county, Harris county sheriff's department, judge denies death benefits, late for court, Nikki Araguz, Thomas Araguz