anybody ever have problems because of an Ohio birth certificate?

[Raquel June]

In Ohio, it's really easy to get the sex/gender on your driver license changed with a form from the BMV. You just have to have a doctor, psychologist or licensed therapist sign a statement saying, "It has been determined this individual is sufficiently ready for, or has completed a gender role transition, and it is intended this role change is to be permanent."

But, Ohio is one of the only states (I think Tennessee and Idaho are the others) that doesn't let you to ever change or amend the gender on your birth certificate.

I was just wondering if people ever run into issues with that when they move to another state. From what I've read, a lot of states like California, Arizona, and New Mexico only need a similar letter from a doctor saying what gender you're living as, and if I was lucky I wouldn't even need that because they mostly allow your out of state license as a primary ID, so they never even need to see your birth certificate.

But then there are places like Texas where it looks like it's pretty much impossible to change your license without a court order that you probably can't get without 50 witnesses of your SRS. And I was thinking some states might give you a hard time if you can't change your birth certificate.

[Miranda-E]

social security only needs the document trail to update documents.
passports are the same.
states with WHTI ID's need a document trail and pull data from social security.

With those taken care of the actual birth certificate gender marking isn't that important.

[Raquel June]

Huh? With what taken care of? What document trail? What's social security have to do with it? Do they keep gender info, too?

[DebbieL]

The requirements for the gender change vary from state to state. In many states, all that is required is a signed letter from a medical professional (psychologist or psychiatrist) indicating that you have completed enough of your transition to be considered your target gender. In other states, the state may require that you actually complete SRS. Until 2010, SSI and Passport required that you actually have SRS, but since 2010, only "Suffcient progress toward transition" which usually means that you have breasts grown as a result of HRT and/or Surgery. The legal maze can be tricky to navigate. Due to homeland security requirements, if you take a new job as female and your SSI still says male, you could be flagged for "Information Mismatch" - which could result in unintentional "outing". You might want to talk to a lawyer for the most effective ways to navigate the rules in your state and coordinate them with federal requirements. You also need to notify previous schools, employers, and creditors of your change as well. By doing this, you can not only assure that there are no issues with your credit, but you can also be assured that your credit history will reflect your new name and female status.

After spending hundreds on cosmetic changes (hair removal), HRT, and therapists, does it make any sense to skimp on a lawyer and mess up your credit, your financial status, and/or your ability to find gainful employment?

[Michelle.M]

But then there are places like Texas where it looks like it's pretty much impossible to change your license without a court order that you probably can't get without 50 witnesses of your SRS.

I appreciate your frustration but narrow-minded generalizations like that are not helpful to anyone else who might have legitimate questions and hopes to glean useful information from this site.

I changed my name and gender markers on my Texas drivers license, social security card and passport with a court order. For the court order I used an attorney and needed the same things every other name change order requires (background check, fingerprints, forms and fees) plus ONE letter from my doctor saying that I have undertaken the appropriate clinical steps to change my gender.

And I am pre-op.

[sandra-leigh]

Due to homeland security requirements, if you take a new job as female and your SSI still says male, you could be flagged for "Information Mismatch" - which could result in unintentional "outing".

SSI will no longer report gender mismatches. See this older posting (http://www.crossdressers.com/forums/showthread.php?160861-US-Social-Security-will-no-longer-report-gender-mismatches).

[CharleneT]

SSI will no longer report gender mismatches. See this older posting (http://www.crossdressers.com/forums/showthread.php?160861-US-Social-Security-will-no-longer-report-gender-mismatches).

True, but they do keep gender information on file. What's on file can get out. Luckily you can change SSN gender markers... the thing to keep in mind is that the SS offices are not consistent about doing it. Sometimes you have to have proof of SRS, sometimes a therapist's letter will do it. The rules are clear (SRS required) but the application is variable.

[ColleenA]

I changed my name and gender markers on my Texas drivers license, social security card and passport with a court order. For the court order I used an attorney and needed the same things every other name change order requires (background check, fingerprints, forms and fees) plus ONE letter from my doctor saying that I have undertaken the appropriate clinical steps to change my gender.

And I am pre-op.

Michelle, may I ask when you did that? I had an online friend in Dallas about six years ago (lost touch with her since then) who said the hoops she had to jump through were very restrictive.

Thanks, Colleen :)

[Raquel June]

I appreciate your frustration but narrow-minded generalizations like that are not helpful to anyone else who might have legitimate questions and hopes to glean useful information from this site.

Narrow-minded generalizations? That doesn't even make sense unless you're getting defensive about living in Texas, so I apologize if I came off as attacking Texas. I read that you need a court order to change anything in Texas, but couldn't find any specifics of what is required to get the court order, so I was being sarcastic about what you might have to do.

I'd like to leave Ohio as soon as I can, but I have a decent job here. The only places I'm really considering are AZ, NM, Colorado, non-LA parts of California, and Texas. And Texas sounded like the only place I might have trouble with documentation.

I have friends in Phoenix, but Texas is actually pretty high on the list. My best friend might be moving to the DFW area in a few months, so I was kinda concerned about what it takes to get the required court order.



I changed my name and gender markers on my Texas drivers license, social security card and passport with a court order. For the court order I used an attorney and needed the same things every other name change order requires (background check, fingerprints, forms and fees) plus ONE letter from my doctor saying that I have undertaken the appropriate clinical steps to change my gender.

And I am pre-op.

That certainly doesn't sound too painful. And the fees aren't much worse than a name change?

If I already have an F of my Ohio license, do you think I'll still have to go through all of that? I suppose I probably would, because an out of state driver license isn't considered a primary or even a secondary form of ID on the Texas DPS website. They list it as a supporting document that isn't any more relevant than a school ID, and I still need my birth certificate, which will say "male" on it.

[Michelle.M]

Michelle, may I ask when you did that? I had an online friend in Dallas about six years ago (lost touch with her since then) who said the hoops she had to jump through were very restrictive.

January 2012. Now here's my advice. As DebbieL pointed out, using a lawyer is a good idea and that's what I did. I think the problems your friend had probably stemmed from trying to do it herself. I know several trans folks who have gone this route and I wish I had a nickel for all the complaints I've heard from them.

Oh, it can be done, but this is not merely a simple name change. My court order also includes gender marker change, and that takes a bit of legal dealing between judge and attorney. At least until one has had GRS and has changed the birth certificate. Then it's merely a matter of presenting all the documents and getting stuff changed.

The thing I had going for me is that there really are no laws prohibiting a pre-op name and gender change. All name changes in Texas require a court order (in some states it's merely an administrative process), so if a pre-op trans person requires it a sympathetic judge can make that call, as long as the case is properly presented in court.


Narrow-minded generalizations? That doesn't even make sense unless you're getting defensive about living in Texas, so I apologize if I came off as attacking Texas.

That's not my point. Texas has wacky redneck politics that deserve criticism, to be sure, but let's not say silly things that simply don't apply. There are plenty of girls living in Texas (and elsewhere) who read these forums and hope to get some useful insight into the name change process. If you have solid information, share it. If not, just say that you don't know. But the members of the legal profession who help us are trying to do something good as often as they can. Let's not make them all look like boneheads.


I read that you need a court order to change anything in Texas, but couldn't find any specifics of what is required to get the court order, so I was being sarcastic about what you might have to do.

You do need a court order. Here's some info:

http://www.texasbar.com/Content/NavigationMenu/ForThePublic/FreeLegalInformation/OurLegalSystem/NameChangesInTxpdf.pdf

For Texas trans folks who are thinking of using an attorney for this I recommend Phyllis Frye, who does this all the time.

http://www.liberatinglaw.com