Ryan Scout_FTM

“The American Civil Liberties Union and the law firm Perkins Coie appeared in Alaska Superior Court yesterday seeking to allow transgender individuals to correct the sex marker on their driver’s licenses. Refusing to change the sex marker on a driver’s license or requiring surgery prior to a change places an undue burden on transgender individuals and presents a gross violation of an individual’s right to privacy and equality.”

I am saddened to see yet another state denying transgender individuals basic rights to be able to more comfortably live in this world, but I’m happy to see the ACLU fighting this and will keep everyone updated. 

There are several states where individuals in the transgender community can now change their driver’s license to the gender they are socially living as without needing to provide a surgeon’s letter. 

On Dec 4th, 2010 this happened in the state of Nebraska after the DMV worked with Nebraska’s ACLU chapter and developed a form, called the “Certificate of Sex Reassignment” that requires the individual has their medical provider (must be an MD) sign off on a form that states “I certify that the above named applicant has undergone the necessary sex reassignment procedures required for social gender recognition and is requesting that a driver license/ID card be issued using ____male _____female as the gender.” Although this process still requires that an individual be under the care of a medical provider, the language is broad enough and directed to a “social gender recognition”. The use of the word “social” is key because one can socially transition without seeking medical treatments. 

To find information about your state’s policies, visit the ACLU’s website.

-Ryan