Legally Faith, legally female!

[Faith_G]

:jumping: It's done! :jumping:

My court hearing for my name change was at 9 AM, by 9:45 I was at PennDOT getting my new license. They accepted the new gender change form with no problems. I was the first one through that office with the new form so they had to put their heads together to make sure it was filled out properly and would go through the system OK, but it all worked perfectly. I got my "F"! :happy: Then it was on to the SSA office. They accepted the letter from my endo stating that I had undergone "appropriate clinical treatment" (the Dept. of State wording) without so much as an eyeblink - so my Social Security records will say female now too! :)

I spent the rest of the day running around to change my name at the local offices of banks, utilities, auto tags, insurance, etc. Then I spent a few hours on the phone getting forms emailed to me and fax numbers to send the court order to. I'll about wear out the fax machine at work tomorrow. :heehee: But then it will be pretty much done, all my accounts will be in my new name.

My purse feels lighter without that male ID dragging it down. :happy: I didn't think it was bothering me much, but I feel a lot more secure and confident (didn't know that was possible!) with my female ID. :happy:

[MAJESTYK]

Congratulations dear! Very happy for you!:hugs:

[KeriB]

Congratulations!!!! But i need ask, Are you certain about SSC? I ws under the impression they still required SRS for the gender marker change. If not, that is huge news, though I've been wondering how they could run counter to the State change in policy.

[Jay Cee]

Congrats, Faith! A very exciting day for you.

[Lorileah]

awesome Faith! Congrats

[Teresa Ann]

Hey Woman, how does that sound. Keep the Faith. What more can I say but YEA!!

[Faith_G]

But i need ask, Are you certain about SSC? I ws under the impression they still required SRS for the gender marker change. If not, that is huge news, though I've been wondering how they could run counter to the State change in policy.The clerk helping me looked at the letter, asked her supervisor if it was OK, then made the changes in her computer. :)

I doubt it's an official policy change. I confidently handed them a letter that said substantially what they needed to see. Perhaps if I had gone in and acted unsure about myself and my documents they might have looked closer and checked higher up in the food chain before acting. My attitude made it seem routine. Jedi mind trick... ;)



Hey Woman, how does that sound. Keep the Faith. What more can I say but YEA!!:laughing: My friend Iris always answers the phone "Hey woman" when I call. :D Makes me grin every time! It sounds great. :happy:

[Melody Moore]

Congratulations Faith!

I am lodging my change of name today as well, then it will be down to the DoT to get my name & sex changed on my drivers licence as well. I cant wait to see that big F on mine. The Doll's House (sexual health clinic) here told me they will give me the appropriate letter to do this. Then after that it will be on to the Bank, Centrelink etc. The only thing I cant get changed pre-srs is the sex on my birth certificate. But that can come later I really dont care because in every other respect I will also be legally female real soon just like you. :)

[CharleneT]

Congratulations!!!! But i need ask, Are you certain about SSC? I ws under the impression they still required SRS for the gender marker change. If not, that is huge news, though I've been wondering how they could run counter to the State change in policy.

It varies by the day and the office. A friend of mine here went thru with just a letter from a therapist. With me, they required a letter for SRS. The actual policy statment is that you must have the letter of surgery. But, if the clerk will take it, then other things can work.


CONGRATS Faith !!! :Party2:

[Teri Jean]

Congratulations Faith.

[Veronica_Jean]

Congratulations Faith!!!

Isn't it wonderful when things work out!!
:hugs::love:

Have fun getting everything else changed!

P.S. My SSA also accepted my letter without surgery to change my from M to F. I live in Ohio.

Veronica

[Billijo49504]

That is fantastic news, Faith. I'm so very happy for you. I just wish Michigan was that easy to get the F. Gee in school I hated getting F's. Now I want one and it's almost imposible, go figure. :hugs:...BJ

[KeriB]

That is a MAJOR precedent...

[Terri Andrews]

Congradulations ,
I am very happy for you and thanks for sharing your Wonderful Journey with us

[Ms Jennifer]

That sounds so awesome. Keep the rest of us updated. And don't forget the rest of us girls that are on the way.

[BreenaDion]

Congratulations Faith I am so happy for you.

Bree.

[Gillian]

This must truly be such a wonderful and enjoyable state of affairs for you heart felt Congratulations to you indeed.

[Laurie Ann]

Faith that is wonderful news. I am so happy for you

[Tomara]

Hi Faith
Congratulations !
Tomara

[Eileen]

Congratulations Faith! Changing ones name and gender is good for a girls self image.

Eileen

[Victoria Anne]

congratulations Faith , I am so thrilled for you . I was unable to get that F when I changed my name but I am seeing my Gender Doctor on the 20th and hope to get that letter and I will be off , back to update my docs. Again , congratulations , I can only imagine how wonderful you must feel :hugs:

[Traci Elizabeth]

Gee! I need to go back to Pennsylvania and set-up legal residence there. You LUCKY Gal you! Actually, I could not be happier for you. Congrats!

[pamela_a]

OMG!!! Congratulations Faith. I know exactly how you feel. Your day sounded a lot like mine did back in Feb when I got my name and marker changed. It's such a wonderful feeling. It couldn't happen to a nicer woman.


Congratulations!!!! But i need ask, Are you certain about SSC? I ws under the impression they still required SRS for the gender marker change. If not, that is huge news, though I've been wondering how they could run counter to the State change in policy.

I had the same experience as Faith with Social Security. The agent reviewed the document from my doctor and therapist which stated I'd undergone permanent physical changes. He checked the handbook, then verified it with his supervisor and came back and said that's what they needed.

Now the only thing you have to do is your birth record and passport. And the passport is relatively easy now. And your utility bills, bank accounts, voter registration, car insurance, car titles. and a million other things you'll come across. But at this point it's a labor of love

[Empress Lainie]

Congratulations and you answered a question for me........that social security will take the appropriate treatment letter and change gender. I have so hated that M on my medicare it is the only place it appears.

[PretzelGirl]

Congratulations Faith! And I am glad you are getting no resistance. You have come a long way baby!

[Faith_G]

Thanks everybody! :happy:

So far the most difficult thing has been the cable company. They had to mail me a form, which I have to mail back. Everybody else will take a fax, but not Comcast. :bonk:

I don't think my and Pam's experience with SSA means they have had a policy change. We were just fortunate enough to get clerks who weren't sticklers. :happy:

[pamela_a]

Thanks everybody! :happy:

So far the most difficult thing has been the cable company. They had to mail me a form, which I have to mail back. Everybody else will take a fax, but not Comcast. :bonk:


The great thing about Comcast is they charge you for changing the name on your account too.

[Angel.Marie76]

Congrats on all the good news! I have my name chnage planned / coming up in Last Oct / early November (hopefully I nice Halloween present). Once that happens, I'll be in the same boat.. change change change.. and I know that letter from my Endo I'll be asking for today, as I'll be meeting with her in 2 hours! I need the same letter for my 'F' on my driver's license and Passport.

[kimdl93]

Congratulations Faith!!!!

[Melissa A.]

Big congratulations, Faith!

Hugs,

Melissa:)

[rufflage]

Congratulations!

[AKAMichelle]

Congratulations on your "F". Your baggage of old self is being left behind. Good luck to you on the rest of your journey

[StephanieC]

Congratulations! I bet it feels grand.

[pamela_a]

I need the same letter for my 'F' on my driver's license and Passport.

The State Dept has very specific guidelines for changing the gender marker on your passport. I've posted them before but here they are again. I got this from the Minneapolis Passport Office when I changed mine.


The letter from your physician needs the following (on letterhead):

(a) Physician’s full name;

(b) Medical license or certificate number;

(c) Issuing state or other jurisdiction of medical license/certificate;

(d) Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registration number assigned to the physician;

(e) Address and telephone number of the physician;

(f) Language stating that he/she is your attending physician and that he/she has a doctor/patient relationship with you;

(g) Language stating that you have had appropriate clinical treatment for gender transition to the new gender; and

(h) Language stating “I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United States that the forgoing is true and correct”

We need a hard copy of the letter

[Faith_G]

I finally got a notarized copy of my endo's letter, so it went in an envelope with my court order and a check for $27 to the state of New Jersey. I'll be holding my breath for a few weeks, but the worst that can happen is that they change my name but not my gender.

[Veronica_Jean]

The best of luck and congratulations!!
Veronica

[Elsa Larson]

Another giant step on your gender journey !
Thanks for sharing your inspiring story with us.

[Faith_G]

My birth certificate finally came from New Jersey. They changed my name but not the gender. So an endocrinologist's letter is not good enough for NJ. I'm going to call and pester them, but I don't expect to really get anywhere. They did say surgeon, and he's not one.

Oh well, all it really does is prevent me from marrying a man. And I'm not in imminent danger of doing that. :heehee:

In other news, I had to fight with the health insurance company to change my gender. I realized this needed to be done when they sent a letter addressed to "Mr. Faith". :bonk: All it took was a copy of my license faxed to the right person, so it was pretty easy. I was rewarded for my efforts by a $40/month rate hike. :doh:

My car insurance was much nicer, I just called and asked them to change it. My rates did not change.

[GirlyGirl66]

Congratulations Faith!!! Can't wait for mine to be changed.

[Hope]

Ahem... Orchi is surgery...

I'm just saying...

[7sisters]

Legally Faith! God bless! God bless! May your name bring you much prosperity and good fortune.

[Faith_G]

Ahem... Orchi is surgery...

I'm just saying...I can wait a few months more for the deluxe version. ;)

[Faith_G]

When I got home today I found an envelope in the mailbox from the New Jersey Dept. of Health and Senior Services. Inside was an updated copy of my birth certificate - and this one reads "Female"! :jumping:

So I guess a letter from an endocrinologist is acceptable after all. :)

[Melody Moore]

When I got home today I found an envelope in the mailbox from the New Jersey Dept. of Health and Senior Services. Inside was an updated copy of my birth certificate - and this one reads "Female"! :jumping:

So I guess a letter from an endocrinologist is acceptable after all. :)
Well you are very lucky then because that is the one of a couple of things I cannot change here until I'm post-op. The same applies with the
Australian Taxation Office, which I think is stupid really, its time some government offices came out of the dark ages and into the 21 century.

[Kathryn Martin]

This is great news. Can you tell me if part of your court order is actually a confirmation of gender change? Or was it a name change only?

[Faith_G]

Kathryn, the court order only covered the name change. Even if I could have gotten the judge to order a gender change, it would not have mattered. In Pennsylvania name changes are handled by the county courts and gender changes fall outside their jurisdiction.

None of the gender changes I needed to make required a court order. For Social Security and my birth certificate, I had my endocrinologist write a letter following the format that the U.S. Dept. of State requires to change gender on a passport. The important phrase is "appropriate clinical treatment for gender transition". My endo feels that hormone therapy is appropriate, and I had already transitioned socially, so he was happy to write the letter. Both agencies accepted my letter even though it did not match the wording ("irreversible medical procedure") they both supposedly require and in the case of my birth certificate my doctor is not a surgeon. My driver's license was handled with a simple form at the DOT office, it just needed a signature from my therapist. Once I had the driver's license, I was able to get my insurance changed.

[Teri Jean]

Congrats

[7sisters]

Big Big congratulations to you Faith. I'm very very happy !!!!!!!! *hugs*

[Tomara]

Hi Faith,
Congratulations !!
I hope you are smiling from ear to ear.
Have a great week.
Tomara

[Karen564]

That's Great news Faith and I'm so happy for you! :hugs:



Kathryn,
Every State & city/town for that matter has it's own laws/rules regarding some of these changes..so where you live determines what & how you go about it.

[pamela_a]

Congratulations Faith. I can imagine how happy you were to see that. I was happy when I got my F on my driver license, I cried when I saw it on my birth certificate.