Another State Joins The List

There are now the states of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, Rhode Island, New York, Maryland, California, Washington, and Oregon and Washington D.C. where you are able to change our birth certificate without surgery.

Massachusetts state senator Jason Lewis has posted this on his webpage,

State Senator Jason Lewis is pleased to announce that his measure to facilitate the process for transgender people to amend their birth certificates has been included in the Fiscal Year 2016 state budget signed today by the Governor.  The measure will take effect when the budget takes effect on August 1.

Under existing law (Section 13, subsection (e), of Chapter 46 of the Massachusetts General Laws), a person must show the completion of sex reassignment surgery in order to have the ability to amend the listing of their sex on their birth certificate. However, this requirement is onerous as sex reassignment surgery can often be a series of surgeries and procedures that are very expensive and are typically done over a long period of time.  Also, many transgender people simply choose not to seek sex reassignment surgery.

Under Senator Lewis’ measure, individuals seeking to amend their birth certificates to accurately reflect their sex can do so by presenting to either the Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics or their municipal clerk’s office: an affidavit executed by the individual, or by a parent or guardian if the individual is a minor, indicating the individual’s sex; and, a physician’s notarized statement that the individual has completed medical intervention appropriate for the individual.  This requirement to offer proof of medical intervention replaces the former, more onerous requirement to offer proof of completion of sex reassignment surgery.

“Vital records are the primary documents that serve as guideposts to our lives: they announce a child’s birth, affirm our most sacred relationships, and help get our affairs in order after we die,” said Senator Jason Lewis.  “Yet, if you are a transgender person in Massachusetts, state law still requires proof of surgery to amend your birth certificate.  This is an out-of-date and unduly onerous requirement that is also inconsistent with medical best practices.”

Congratulations!