Name Change And Gender Marker Change

[Guest sarah f]

I was reading a local gender site that I am a member of where a girl was going in to change her name and gender marker. One of the suggestions hit me over the head as something that might actually work.

One girl on there had her passport changed first with her name and gender marker because it is easier to have done. She then went to the DMV and showed her passport and got her drivers license with name and gender maker changed with no problems. A passport is a legal document so why question the gender and name.

What do the rest of you think about this? I know you still need to change it with the state legally but at least you would have a drivers license that matches you until that happens. Also this might help you change it with the state.

[Guest Krissy163]

No clue but if you do it and it works let me know because we're both in Texas. Sounds like it should work to me, I'm going to have my stuff changed some time next summer.

[Guest sarah f]

No clue but if you do it and it works let me know because we're both in Texas. Sounds like it should work to me, I'm going to have my stuff changed some time next summer.

If my plans go the way I hope then I will find out in April. I have to get a new license anyway in April so I hope to be able to change my name and gender then. We will see if I meet those plans. I will definately let you know if it works.

[Guest Melissa 67]

It sounds like a great plan to me, anything that works and makes things run smoother is always a good thing.

Melissa 67

[Paula ult]

Sarah, in order to get the 2 year or 10 year full passport you will need your name change document, the form asks i if you have gone by any other names, you have to send a copy of your legal name change, your birth certificate, a copy of your drivers license and the letter from your doctor stating if you are in transition, 2 year passport or completed, meaning srs, 10 year passport..

All my documentation has been changed, my post office does passport's, they sent my name change document, a copy of my drivers license,my birth certificate and the letter from my Endo, btw he worded it as i was complete, that will be in a little over 4 months, i received a 10 year passport within 4 weeks.

You can try it Sarah, but i have my doubts it will work.

Paula

[Guest Arielle]

Same as Paula..

You need a court order to change your name on just about anything, PP included. The only thing you don't need one for is the PP gender marker. Once you have a court order stating legal name change, every oganisation absolutely must obey it. I've heard of a few times where someone's personal feelings got in the way of things, but don't know how true the reports are. I walked in to the DMV office with a completed Medical authorisation form and the cleark (woman) at the DMV beisdes not having loads of training to process it had absolutely no problems with doing any part of it. Of course she finally gave up on calling her supervisor for bits of help and said, "I'll just figure it out myself." She also thanked me for being so patient.

I heard that changing your name can be difficult and it's really the judge who has the final say in what happens. What I would suggest is find people in your area that have been to a certain judge and ask them what happened. I was told that judges in CO simply ask for the reason why you're changing it and to give the honest answer "because it goes better with my current identity", then they ask if you're doing it to avoid creditors to of course (hope you're not lying at this point) state the obvious. A criminal background check is also necessary since 9.11 to make sure you're not a criminal mostly. Of course some CC companies and banks require a certified court order of name change to change any records to the correct ones, just to make sure you didn't make a fake ID just to do that. It's simply stated a document saying "I don't care what you personally feel, you must do what I request and here's legal proof".

I've heard a few things about S.S.A. employees not complying with a surgeons written statment of SRS completion, but again I think that might be something where the person telling it is just looking for attention. SSA has written guidelines that they must follow explaining what's required to have your gender marker changed. Anything else would be a conflict of interest, the employee agreed to take the job at SSA and do what was asked of them, not what they thought was "right" in their eyes. Doctors are there to help people, and the hypocratic oath (analogy) states that they must help and do no harm to anyone whom they treat. Not of whom they feel like treating or operating on.

[Guest Chiv]

Sarah,

I only know the laws for California. There is an organization here called the Transgender Law Center. www.transgenderlawcenter.org Maybe they can give you information for Texas or refer you to an appropriate organization that knows Texas laws. I found getting accurate information from their staff and attorney was very helpful.

[Guest Chiv]

Sarah,

Another one is transequality.org.

Chiv

[Guest M Smith]

Sarah,

I only know the laws for California. There is an organization here called the Transgender Law Center. www.transgenderlawcenter.org Maybe they can give you information for Texas or refer you to an appropriate organization that knows Texas laws. I found getting accurate information from their staff and attorney was very helpful.

We're in California too. Do you have any experience with obtaining school transcripts and diplomas in a new name? When my husband did all his name changing stuff, he never thought about getting his high school diploma done. As he's now in college and needs his HS diploma for a program he wants to enter, we're scratching our heads on how to best go about this.

(His former HS is in a rural, conservative, area. So we want to know our stuff before we attempt this.)

[Guest Chiv]

The Transgender Law Center will be able to help you with that as well. They are an excellent organization with staff on various issues statewide in California and they have a staff attorney. Aside from my personal experience, I have been involved in changes here locally with a local group on policy and laws and they have been stellar in their support and knowledge. You can also tell them I referred you. I live in a small, rural area in Northern California and local agencies don't always know statewide laws. If I can be of any further assistance, let me know.

[Guest Barbie]

This is a state by state guide on change of name and gender on birth certificates. If the birth certificate can be changed this is probably the best way to proceed.

Texas:

Summary: Prior to Littleton v. Prange (1999), Texas issued new birth certificates. Anecdotal reports now indicate that some officials refuse to correct the sex designation on transgender people's birth certificates, although judges may order such a change.

http://www.lambdalegal.org/our-work/issues/rights-of-transgender-people/sources-of-authority-to-amend.html

[Guest Chiv]

I have the greatest respect for Lambda Legal and it is the only LGBT organization I have supported. That resource list is great. I don't have any personal experience with transequality. I suggested the Transgender Law Center because they do focus on our community and they also have national offices. Just looking at California in the Lambda list, I wonder how up to date this list is and it is a brief synopsis statewide. TLC gave me advice based on my individual situation. Each local court then has it's own requirements which I was familiar with because I do this work daily and that is something I had to research for myself. In my case, TLC was able to give me accurate information that friends or others did not have because TLC works on this stuff everyday and are aware of the latest changes. My name change went smoothly because I had all the paperwork done properly.

Sarah, you have a wonderful and supportive family and I am very happy for you. I did this alone, with no emotional support. For me to talk to someone who was supportive of the transgender community was a blessing.

[Guest Pamela5]

I live in right wing Nevada but the news of late is very good. You can change your DL marker with a letter from your MD that your are undergoing treatment. Same with Passport. I was able to get my birth certificate changed (PA) and my SS change with my orci letter from Dr. Bowers stating I had "irreversible genital surgery". Things are much better now and document wise I am fully female. SRS will soon complete the process. It is very important that your documents are correct when you fly as the TSA can be a problem; you ID must match your ticket.

Pam