Miriam Ben-Shalom is an American educator and anti-transgender activist.
Background
Ben-Shalom was born May 3, 1948 in Waukesha, Wisconsin, one of six children in a Roman Catholic family. Ben-Shalom’s mother died when Miriam was six. After graduating high school in 1967, Ben-Shalom married and had a child. At 19, Ben-Shalom converted to Judaism, moved to Israel, joined the military, changed names, and remarried. In 1971, Ben-Shalom divorced and returned to the US, earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees from University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee.
In 1974, Ben-Shalom enlisted in the United States Army Reserve. After coming out as lesbian in the media, Ben-Shalom was honorably discharged in 1976. Ben-Shalom sued, and after a lengthy court battle, lost in 1990. Ben-Shalom then co-founded the Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Veterans of America (GLBVA), now American Veterans for Equal Rights (AVER). Ben-Shalom continued protesting until “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy was repealed.
Ben-Shalom taught English at Milwaukee Area Technical College. Ben-Shalom has been in a relationship with Karen Weiss (born September 1947).
Anti-transgender activism
In 2017, Ben-Shalom testified at the Texas Senate Committee on State Affairs against trans rights and co-founded the Hands Across the Aisle Coalition with right-wing activist Kaeley Triller Haver. Ben-Shalom has worked with the Heritage Foundation to oppose trans rights.
Ben-Shalom also participated in the anti-trans group blog The Compassion Coalition.
Because of these hateful views, Ben-Shalom was disinvited from being grand marshal of the 2016 Milwaukee Pride Parade.
References
Jones, Andrea; Wood, Melody (March 3, 2017). Feminists and Conservatives Link Arms to Confront Transgender Ideology. The Daily Signal. The Heritage Foundation.
Anderson, Ryan T. (2018). When Harry Became Sally: Responding to the Transgender Moment. New York: Encounter Books. p. 207. ISBN 978-1594039621.
The Bending and Twisting of Sex and Gender. Ms. Miriam Ben-Shalom on YouTube. CitizenGo. February 23, 2018
1st International Conference on Sex, Gender, and Education #GenderAndSex (February 2018). Madrid Declaration for Understanding, Respect and Freedom (PDF). Femina Europa
Polcyn, Bryan; Davis, Stephen (June 8, 2016). Transgender issues are driving a wedge in LGBT community, says activist ousted from Pride Parade. WITI
Milwaukee Pride Parade (May 3, 2016). Re: Former Grand Marshal Miriam Ben-Shalom. Facebook. Retrieved 17 April 2019.
Miriam Ben-Shalom (April 27, 2016). For your reading enjoyemnt (not sarcasm): I am no longer Milwaukee Pride’s Grand Marshal for their parade. Facebook.
-http://mcgarryfh.frontrunnerpro.com/book-of-memories/2215570/Samuel-Ages/obituary.php
Resources
Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
Library of Congress (loc.gov)
- Miriam Ben-Shalom Collection
- https://www.loc.gov/item/afc2001001.43276/
X/Twitter (x.com)
LinkedIn (linkedin.com)