The Next Battle

Down in the territory of Puerto Rico they are fighting the next skirmish for trans rights.

Lawsuit challenges Puerto Rico’s refusal to issue transgender birth certificates
Puerto Rico doesn't allow gender markers to be changed on birth certificates, but does on driver's licenses
Metro Weekly
By John Riley
July 4, 2017

Lawyers representing three transgender residents of Puerto Rico and an LGBTQ advocacy group have filed papers urging a federal court to strike down Puerto Rico’s policy denying transgender people accurate birth certificates as unconstitutional.

The lawsuit was first filed in April by Lambda Legal on behalf of two transgender women, Daniela Arroyo González and Victoria Rodríguez Roldán, a transgender man known as J.G., and the group Puerto Rico Para Tod@s.

In its complaint, Lambda Legal argues that Puerto Rico’s policy, which does not allow people to amend the gender marker on their birth certificates is unconstitutional, violating the Equal Protection and Due Process clauses of the U.S. Constitution and transgender Puerto Ricans’ right to free speech under the First Amendment.

I hope that they win their lawsuit. Not having a birth certificate that reflects your true gender makes it a lot harder to get a job when you have to prove that you are a U.S. citizen. Also with the Real ID Act taking effect in January it will a lot harder to fly to the mainland.