#Roommates, a major change has just been made official in New York State regarding the transgender community. Following a January lawsuit by a 14-year-old transgender boy, New York will now allow all transgender minors to change their gender on their birth certificates.
@NBCNews reports, in an effort address the growing issues of transgender Americans, New York State has made it legal for transgender minors to change the gender on their birth certificates to reflect their gender identity, instead of the sex they were assigned at birth. New York Attorney General Letitia James announced the decision earlier this week.
James’ announcement comes just after 14-year-old transgender boy, known as M.H.W., sued the state of New York over its policy banning minors from changing their birth certificate gender marker, although adults have been legally allowed to do so since 2014. His lawsuit was filed on his behalf by LGBTQ civil rights group, Lambda Legal.
Speaking about the historic new ruling, M.H.W had this to say:
“Now all my identity paperwork matches, and I can go forward not having to worry about legal documents conflicting with who I am again. I get to just go on being me.”
Attorney General James also spoke about her decision, stating:
“Effective immediately, transgender individuals born in New York will have the right to make this deeply personal decision without the government’s unwarranted denial or without having their privacy violated. We will not allow an outdated policy to stop us from providing every individual with equal dignity and respect.”
Certain states — including New York, California, Colorado, Connecticut, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Washington — allow both transgender adults and minors to change their birth certificate gender markers to represent their gender identity. However, Ohio and Tennessee, don’t allow for the change on birth certificates at all and as such, Lambda Legal is currently suing both states over their policies.
Roommates, what are your thoughts on this?
