Driver License Change In Ohio

[Paula ult]

The information you need about how to change your gender marker on your

Ohio driver's license is in the email message below.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Change Does Begin From the Bottom Up

*grass-roots:* *adjective*. Pertaining to, or involving the common

people,

> esp. as contrasted with or separable from an elite.

>

> Change happens from the bottom up. That is the heart of a grassroots

> movement, change, initiated by the Average Joe (or Jane!). The

catalyst to

> these grassroots-type movements often stem from individuals in society

who

> find themselves hitting walls of bureaucracy and confusing policies

that

> those who need to administrate them are often unsure a

The recent Ohio BMV *"Declaration of Gender Change"* policy change

reflects

> exactly this type of grassroots movement. Over the years, many

Transgender

> Ohioans have had issues changing the gender marker on their Ohio

driver's

> license. Sometimes, changing your gender marker depended on which BMV

office

> you went to - Conservative county offices might give you the run

around,

> versus, visiting an office in a more liberal county, one might not run

into

> any issue.

>

> For several years, we've said that it's a hit-and-miss kind thing when

it

> comes to the ease of changing that ever important gender marker.

Really, our

> livelihood depends on it. State issued IDs are required for

employment, to

> drive, to open a bank account, to cash a check, to get a post office

box,

> traveling, and so on. For many, an identification card with the

correct name

> and gender marker often became an issue of safety.

>

> In mid 2007, a transgender woman from North-West Ohio encountered

issues

> with changing her gender marker on her Ohio driver's license. Since

then,

> she worked to create a professional relationship with the

administrators at

> the Ohio BMV to create an open dialogue which allowed an honest

exchange of

> information and an opportunity to provide education about Transgender

people

> to the administrators. Remember the meaning of Grassroots?

>

> Over the last few years, your statewide Ohio GLBT grassroots

organizations,

> TransOhio and Equality Ohio, have worked alongside this Average Jane,

longtime advocate Meral Crane and the administrators at the Ohio BMV to

create a fair and accessible statewide

policy managing gender marker changes on Ohio driver's licenses.

>

> Finally, this has come to fruition.

>

> Effective immediately, a statewide policy - *"Declaration of Gender

> Change"*- has been put into effect by the Ohio BMV.

>

>

>

> How this process works:

>

>

> - Transgender Ohioans need to phone the main office of the Ohio BMV

> (located in Columbus) to request the *"Declaration of Gender

> Change"*form. The main office number is: 1-614-752-7500.

>

>

> *(This form is not yet available online, and will not be until it is

> officially assigned a form identification number by the Ohio BMV.) *

>

>

> - The *"Declaration of Gender Change"* form will be mailed to the

> requester.

> - Licensed Physicians, Psychologists and Therapists are the only one's

> allowed to sign this form.

>

>

> *(To be qualified, the medical professional must attest that the

transition

> is being conducted in accordance with the guidelines set forth in the

World

> Professional Association for Transgender Health's (WPATH) Standards of

Care,

> formally known as the Henry Benjamin Standards of Care). *

>

>

> - The individual requesting the gender marker change will need to have

> their physician, psychologist or therapist complete and sign the

> *"Declaration

> of Gender Change"* form.

>

>

> - Completed forms should be mailed or faxed to:

>

>

> Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles

> Attn: License Control

> P.O. Box 16784

> Columbus, Ohio 43216-6784

>

> Phone: 1-614-752-7500

> Fax: 1-614-752-7987

>

> ***Note: Don't forget to make a copy of the paperwork for your

records. *

>

>

> - Turn-around and processing time is 7-10 business days. The Ohio BMV

> will notify the applicant in writing that their information has been

> changed.

>

>

> - The individual will then be able to take that written notification

to

> their local BMV office to get their new license issued. The old

license must

> be surrendered.

>

>

> - BMV fees DO APPLY to the issuance of your new Ohio Driver's License

or

> state issued ID card.

>

> There are a few additional points of information on the *"Declaration

of

> Gender Change"* form that we feel are important to point out:

>

>

> - If gender identification is marked as transitional, a new form must

be

> submitted for each driver's license/ID renewal until gender

identification

> is complete. If the form is not submitted at renewal, the gender

marker will

> revert back to the original gender.

>

>

> - Each individual is limited to changing their gender back to the

> original gender on their driver's license or ID card one (1) time.

>

> *Frequently Asked Questions*

>

> *Q: *I reside in Ohio, but my doctors and therapist are out of state.

Can

> they sign the *"Declaration of Gender Change" *form?

> *A:* Yes. Any licensed physician/psychologist/therapist is qualified

to sign

> the *"Declaration of Gender Change"* form as long as they are in

accordance

> with the guidelines set forth in the World Professional Association

for

> Transgender Health's (WPATH) Standards of Care.

>

> *Q:* Does my physician/psychologist/therapist need to be a member of

WPATH?

> *A: *No. Any licensed physician/psychologist/therapist is qualified to

sign

> the *"Declaration of Gender Change"* form as long as they are in

accordance

> with the guidelines set forth in the World Professional Association

for

> Transgender Health's (WPATH) Standards of Care. Membership to WPATH is

NOT a

> requirement for your physician/psychologist/therapist.

>

> *Q:* Do I need to have any surgery to have my gender marker changed on

my

> Ohio driver's license?

> *A: *No. The Ohio BMV no longer requires a letter from your surgeon

stating

> you've had SRS.

>

> *Q:* Is my information public information?

> *A: *No. All records of the Ohio Department of Public Safety or Bureau

of

> Motor Vehicles relating to the physical or mental condition of any

person

> are confidential and are not open to public record.

>

> *Q: *Can my gender marker be changed if I haven't had a court ordered

name

> change yet?

> *A: *Yes. You can change your gender marker even if your name has not

been

> changed.

>

> ***Note: TransOhio does recommend making sure that if you've not had

your

> name changed through the Probate Court, that you do so as soon as

you're

> able to, so that your name AND gender reflect correctly on your new

driver's

> license. *

>

> *Q: *I heard that there is a new format for Ohio driver's license. Are

> driver's licenses being issued with a pink background for women, and a

blue

> background for men?

> *A: *There is a new format for the Ohio driver's license. The

background

> color is pink for *all* driver's licenses.

>

> If you have additional questions about the *"Declaration of Gender

> Change"*form, please contact TransOhio at

> TransOhio@..., or call us at 614-441-8167.

>

> Remember, change does happen from the ground up.

>

> These are the types of changes that can happen when individuals get

involved

> and become part of the movement. Get involved with your statewide

> organizations, TransOhio and Equality Ohio, we are here, working for

you.

> Working so that all Ohioans feel at home in Ohio.

>

> For more information about TransOhio, visit them at

>

www.transohio.org<http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=11549946&msg\

id=207127&act=4X0L&c=172474&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.transoh\

io.org>,

> or Equality Ohio,

>

www.equalityohio.org<http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=11549946&\

msgid=207127&act=4X0L&c=172474&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.equa\

lityohio.org>.

>

>

> Educate. Advocate. Support. Community.

>

Fri Sep 25, 2009 9:26 am

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"transohio" <transohio@...>

transohio

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Paula

[Bulldog1948]

The information you need about how to change your gender marker on your

Ohio driver's license is in the email message below.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Change Does Begin From the Bottom Up

*grass-roots:* *adjective*. Pertaining to, or involving the common

people,

> esp. as contrasted with or separable from an elite.

>

> Change happens from the bottom up. That is the heart of a grassroots

> movement, change, initiated by the Average Joe (or Jane!). The

catalyst to

> these grassroots-type movements often stem from individuals in society

who

> find themselves hitting walls of bureaucracy and confusing policies

that

> those who need to administrate them are often unsure a

The recent Ohio BMV *"Declaration of Gender Change"* policy change

reflects

> exactly this type of grassroots movement. Over the years, many

Transgender

> Ohioans have had issues changing the gender marker on their Ohio

driver's

> license. Sometimes, changing your gender marker depended on which BMV

office

> you went to - Conservative county offices might give you the run

around,

> versus, visiting an office in a more liberal county, one might not run

into

> any issue.

>

> For several years, we've said that it's a hit-and-miss kind thing when

it

> comes to the ease of changing that ever important gender marker.

Really, our

> livelihood depends on it. State issued IDs are required for

employment, to

> drive, to open a bank account, to cash a check, to get a post office

box,

> traveling, and so on. For many, an identification card with the

correct name

> and gender marker often became an issue of safety.

>

> In mid 2007, a transgender woman from North-West Ohio encountered

issues

> with changing her gender marker on her Ohio driver's license. Since

then,

> she worked to create a professional relationship with the

administrators at

> the Ohio BMV to create an open dialogue which allowed an honest

exchange of

> information and an opportunity to provide education about Transgender

people

> to the administrators. Remember the meaning of Grassroots?

>

> Over the last few years, your statewide Ohio GLBT grassroots

organizations,

> TransOhio and Equality Ohio, have worked alongside this Average Jane,

longtime advocate Meral Crane and the administrators at the Ohio BMV to

create a fair and accessible statewide

policy managing gender marker changes on Ohio driver's licenses.

>

> Finally, this has come to fruition.

>

> Effective immediately, a statewide policy - *"Declaration of Gender

> Change"*- has been put into effect by the Ohio BMV.

>

>

>

> How this process works:

>

>

> - Transgender Ohioans need to phone the main office of the Ohio BMV

> (located in Columbus) to request the *"Declaration of Gender

> Change"*form. The main office number is: 1-614-752-7500.

>

>

> *(This form is not yet available online, and will not be until it is

> officially assigned a form identification number by the Ohio BMV.) *

>

>

> - The *"Declaration of Gender Change"* form will be mailed to the

> requester.

> - Licensed Physicians, Psychologists and Therapists are the only one's

> allowed to sign this form.

>

>

> *(To be qualified, the medical professional must attest that the

transition

> is being conducted in accordance with the guidelines set forth in the

World

> Professional Association for Transgender Health's (WPATH) Standards of

Care,

> formally known as the Henry Benjamin Standards of Care). *

>

>

> - The individual requesting the gender marker change will need to have

> their physician, psychologist or therapist complete and sign the

> *"Declaration

> of Gender Change"* form.

>

>

> - Completed forms should be mailed or faxed to:

>

>

> Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles

> Attn: License Control

> P.O. Box 16784

> Columbus, Ohio 43216-6784

>

> Phone: 1-614-752-7500

> Fax: 1-614-752-7987

>

> ***Note: Don't forget to make a copy of the paperwork for your

records. *

>

>

> - Turn-around and processing time is 7-10 business days. The Ohio BMV

> will notify the applicant in writing that their information has been

> changed.

>

>

> - The individual will then be able to take that written notification

to

> their local BMV office to get their new license issued. The old

license must

> be surrendered.

>

>

> - BMV fees DO APPLY to the issuance of your new Ohio Driver's License

or

> state issued ID card.

>

> There are a few additional points of information on the *"Declaration

of

> Gender Change"* form that we feel are important to point out:

>

>

> - If gender identification is marked as transitional, a new form must

be

> submitted for each driver's license/ID renewal until gender

identification

> is complete. If the form is not submitted at renewal, the gender

marker will

> revert back to the original gender.

>

>

> - Each individual is limited to changing their gender back to the

> original gender on their driver's license or ID card one (1) time.

>

> *Frequently Asked Questions*

>

> *Q: *I reside in Ohio, but my doctors and therapist are out of state.

Can

> they sign the *"Declaration of Gender Change" *form?

> *A:* Yes. Any licensed physician/psychologist/therapist is qualified

to sign

> the *"Declaration of Gender Change"* form as long as they are in

accordance

> with the guidelines set forth in the World Professional Association

for

> Transgender Health's (WPATH) Standards of Care.

>

> *Q:* Does my physician/psychologist/therapist need to be a member of

WPATH?

> *A: *No. Any licensed physician/psychologist/therapist is qualified to

sign

> the *"Declaration of Gender Change"* form as long as they are in

accordance

> with the guidelines set forth in the World Professional Association

for

> Transgender Health's (WPATH) Standards of Care. Membership to WPATH is

NOT a

> requirement for your physician/psychologist/therapist.

>

> *Q:* Do I need to have any surgery to have my gender marker changed on

my

> Ohio driver's license?

> *A: *No. The Ohio BMV no longer requires a letter from your surgeon

stating

> you've had SRS.

>

> *Q:* Is my information public information?

> *A: *No. All records of the Ohio Department of Public Safety or Bureau

of

> Motor Vehicles relating to the physical or mental condition of any

person

> are confidential and are not open to public record.

>

> *Q: *Can my gender marker be changed if I haven't had a court ordered

name

> change yet?

> *A: *Yes. You can change your gender marker even if your name has not

been

> changed.

>

> ***Note: TransOhio does recommend making sure that if you've not had

your

> name changed through the Probate Court, that you do so as soon as

you're

> able to, so that your name AND gender reflect correctly on your new

driver's

> license. *

>

> *Q: *I heard that there is a new format for Ohio driver's license. Are

> driver's licenses being issued with a pink background for women, and a

blue

> background for men?

> *A: *There is a new format for the Ohio driver's license. The

background

> color is pink for *all* driver's licenses.

>

> If you have additional questions about the *"Declaration of Gender

> Change"*form, please contact TransOhio at

> TransOhio@..., or call us at 614-441-8167.

>

> Remember, change does happen from the ground up.

>

> These are the types of changes that can happen when individuals get

involved

> and become part of the movement. Get involved with your statewide

> organizations, TransOhio and Equality Ohio, we are here, working for

you.

> Working so that all Ohioans feel at home in Ohio.

>

> For more information about TransOhio, visit them at

>

www.transohio.org<http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=11549946&msg\

id=207127&act=4X0L&c=172474&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.transoh\

io.org>,

> or Equality Ohio,

>

www.equalityohio.org<http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=11549946&\

msgid=207127&act=4X0L&c=172474&admin=0&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.equa\

lityohio.org>.

>

>

> Educate. Advocate. Support. Community.

>

Fri Sep 25, 2009 9:26 am

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"transohio" <transohio@...>

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Paula

Paula,

Thank you for posting this extrememly important info. And, thanks to you and everyone that has worked so hard to make this a reality.

next step is getting the birth certificate changed. Are you working on this matter also?

Mike

[Guest Donna Jean]

Thanks, Paula.....

I'm here in Ohio, too and this bit of good news is good for my heart!

You and I will talk further on this on Sunday.....OK?

Love

Donna Jean

[Guest Leigh T]

Wow!! I'm shocked that staid Ohio would bent even a little on this issue. Now for the big question: What is the progress on the birth certificate front? I would like to get mine changed before I die of old age.

Leigh

[Paula ult]

I do know work is being done on trying to get the birth certificate gender marker law changed but have not heard how that is going.

Paula

[Guest Leigh T]

I do know work is being done on trying to get the birth certificate gender marker law changed but have not heard how that is going.

Paula

I sent an email to TransOhio and they told me they are working on it.

[Paula ult]

I called the DMV and requested the form a few days ago and today in the mail i received the form, i have it filled out and will have my therapist fill his part next Friday then it will be mailed back. Next Tuesday i am filing for my name change so by mid November i should have my hearing, then it is off to Social Security, the DMV to get the much needed new DL and then the rest of the things that need to be changed.

Paula

[Guest Leigh T]

I called the DMV and requested the form a few days ago and today in the mail i received the form, i have it filled out and will have my therapist fill his part next Friday then it will be mailed back. Next Tuesday i am filing for my name change so by mid November i should have my hearing, then it is off to Social Security, the DMV to get the much needed new DL and then the rest of the things that need to be changed.

Paula

I hope it goes smoothly for you, Paula. I had my name change/gender change hearing on 04/01/04 - April Fools Day. How apres pous! The only thing I haven't done yet is change my Social Security records for my gender change. I hate waiting in line.