Little Victories, But We Will Take Any That We Can Get

Not that for these people the victories were little, but for us every step forward is progress.

In Alaska, you can now change your gender on your driver’s license which is an important step forward for us. I remember before I transitioned I had to show my driver license to a bouncer at the door. When he looked at my picture and name, a big grin came on his face as he handed my license back.

Transgendered Alaskan to Be Able to Change Gender on Drivers Licenses
The Edge on the Web
by Jason St. Amand
Monday Jul 30, 2012

The lieutenant governor of Alaska has filed a new regulation that would make it easier for transgender citizens to change their gender on their driver’s licenses to the sex they desire without undergoing surgery. The American Civil Liberties Union, which was instrumental in alerting the Alaskan government to the need for such a change, issued a statement revealing Juneau’s regulation.

Lt. Gov. Mead Treadwell, a Republican, filed the measure last week, which will go into effect on August 11. The regulation comes after the ACLU and the ACLU of Alaska challenged a requirement that forced transgender drivers to prove they had undergone surgery as a violation of an individual’s right to privacy.
[…]
"The previous requirement had nothing to do with accepted medical standards and demonstrated a callous lack of understanding of what it means to be transgender," said John Knight, staff attorney with the ACLU Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Project. "The government should not be in the business of dictating anyone’s medical care, especially when it comes to requiring surgery that may not be available, desired, or medically necessary."

In another victory was in Illinois where you can now change your gender on your birth certificate without surgery…

Agreement on Illinois birth certificate change for trans peopleChicago Pride
Mon. July 30, 2012

Chicago, IL — A proposed court-supervised agreement filed July 30 will help ensure that transgender individuals can receive new birth certificates that reflect their correct gender from the Illinois Department of Public Health.
[…]
"This agreement reflects a basic understanding that the government should not be in the business of telling transgender Illinoisans what kind of surgery they need to undergo," said John Knight, Director of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Project at the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois. "It creates a new opportunity to obtain an accurate birth certificate for many people — including a number of persons who have been denied new birth certificates over the years who have not undergone genital surgery, because they have no medical need for it, are concerned about its risks, or cannot afford it."

This is BIG step in the right direction, as the article points out there are many trans-people who cannot afford surgery or for some medical reason having surgery would put their life in danger or just simply because they feel that they don’t need surgery. After all, what is a birth certificate for? It is for identification and when you need to present it for identification they are not going to check to see what is between your legs, they are going to go by the way you presenting yourself as male or female.

The last article is about a personal victory and a victory for the community…

Trans Athlete Breaking Barriers
Care2.com
by Cathryn Wellner
July 27, 2012

On June 21st trans athlete Keelin Godsey came within one meter of making Olympic history. The 28-year-old had already managed 69 meters in the hammer throw. He needed to toss the hammer 71.5 meters in the final qualifying trials. He did succeed in tossing a personal best, 70.49, but was just shy of making the cut for the US Olympic Team in the women’s hammer throw.

Had Godsey made the team, he would have been the first openly trans athlete to compete in any Olympics event. In the video interview below, Ann Schatz talks with him about the challenges of his journey.

Congratulation! It is a major step forward for both Keelin Godsey and the Olympics.