Connecticut Passes Birth Certificate Bill

Yesterday the Senate passed H.B. 7006 An Act Concerning Birth Certificates with bipartisan support…

Connecticut Passes Transgender Rights Bill
Bill removes barriers to changing gender on birth certificate and makes Connecticut a national leader on transgender rights

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 1, 2015
CONTACT: Patrick Gallahue, 860.471.8468, 860.992.7645, pgallahue@acluct.org
The ACLU of Connecticut applauds the passage of a bill that will enable transgender people to change their birth certificate to the appropriate gender without invasive requirements.

Stephen Glassman, Executive Director of the ACLU of Connecticut, said, “This is the arc of history bending toward justice for transgender people. As one of the earliest states to recognize and affirm gender identity and expression in our laws, we have now made this important additional step toward recognizing people as they self-identify with regard to their gender.”

Connecticut law previously included a state Department of Health requirement that people show proof of surgery before they were able to change the gender market on their birth certificate. This burdensome condition denied recognition to numerous people as well as those who could not afford such a procedure.

The new bill empowers healthcare providers with the ability to make a recommendation as to whether a person’s birth certificate should be corrected. The criteria could include "surgical, hormonal, or other treatment appropriate to the individual for the purpose of gender transition.”

Glassman said, “This modernizes our outdated laws and makes Connecticut a national leader once again in an evolving understanding of transgender rights.”

The ACLU of Connecticut made a recommendation to update birth certificate amendment standards in partnership with a coalition of groups including Planned Parenthood of Southern New England, Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders, True Colors, Connecticut TransAdvocacy Coalition, Connecticut Women's Education and Legal Fund, and others.

H.B. No. 7006 passed by a vote of 32-3 in the Senate and 126-18 in the House.

Patrick Gallahue
Communications Director
American Civil Liberties Union of Connecticut

Those voting against the bill were, Sen. McLachlan (R) 24th Dist., Sen Mertin (R) 31st Dist., and Sen. Kane (R) 32nd Dist.

Members of the coalition were,

• American Civil Liberties Union of CT (ACLU)
• CT TransAdvocacy Coalition (CTAC)
• CT Women’s Education and Legal Fund (CWEALF)
• Equality Federation
• Gay and Lesbian Advocates and Defenders (GLAD) Hartford Gay and Lesbian Health Collective (HGLHC)
• National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE)
• Planned Parenthood of Southern New England
• True Colors
• University of Connecticut Rainbow Center

And many thanks to Rachel and also the ACLU for providing our lobbyist, Gallo & Robinson LLC.