TLC Applauds Senate Passage of SB 179, to Enable Accurate Identity Documents
May 31, 2017 - SB 179, the Gender Recognition Act advanced out of the California state senate today. Transgender Law Center (TLC) is proud to have drafted and sponsored the legislation which will empower more transgender, intersex and nonbinary people to more easily obtain state-issued identity documents that accurately reflect their gender. The bill is being authored by Senators Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego) and Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) and is sponsored by TLC and Equality California.
SB 179 will establish a third, nonbinary gender marker on California birth certificates, drivers' licenses, identity cards and gender-change court orders. It also streamlines the processes for Californians to apply to the state for a change in gender on these identifying documents by eliminating the requirement that individuals obtain a certification from a physician and easing the requirement that individuals attend a court hearing.
"This is a huge step forward for transgender and nonbinary Californians," said Kris Hayashi, Executive Director of TLC. "It will help eliminate many of the barriers to accurate ID that people experience that exposes them to discrimination and harassment in so many arenas where we must show ID."
SB 179 will:
- remove the requirement that people obtain a physician's sworn statement;
- ensure that those filing petitions for gender-change court orders, as well as corresponding name-change court orders, need not appear in court for a hearing unless someone has filed timely objections to their petitions;
- create a process by which individuals younger than 18 years old can apply for a change in gender on their birth certificate; and
- create a third gender marker for nonbinary individuals seeking to amend their gender on birth certificates, driver's licenses and state identification cards, and in gender change court orders.
Transgender Law Center is the largest national organization dedicated to advancing the rights of transgender and gender nonconforming people through litigation, policy advocacy, and public education. TLC changes law, policy, and attitudes so that all people can live safely, authentically, and free from discrimination regardless of their gender identity or expression. www.transgenderlawcenter.org