Hawaii eases process to switch gender on birth certificates

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By CATHY BUSSEWITZ

HONOLULU (AP) — Gov. David Ige signed a bill Monday that will allow transgender men and women in Hawaii to more easily change the gender on their birth certificate.

The new law eliminates the requirement that someone must undergo gender reassignment surgery before officially making the switch.

"I know that this has been a tough issue," Ige said. "As all of you know, the birth certificate is one of those foundation documents."

Many in the transgender community can't afford or don't want to undergo costly surgeries. But having a birth certificate that reflects their gender expression is critical for school transcripts, job applications, health insurance and many other aspects of life, advocates said.

FULL story at link.



Tia Thompson, 30, reacts after Hawaii Gov. David Ige signed a bill that will enable transgender men and women to change gender on their birth certificates without having to undergo surgery Monday, July 13, 2015, in Honolulu. Thompson was denied a birth certificate that reflects her female identity, but plans to try again now that the law was passed. (AP Photo/Cathy Bussewitz)

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/9e546c588fbf436cbd51d9e511781573/hawaii-eases-process-switch-gender-birth-certificates

[jberryhill]

1. Well, they already let people switch place of birth from Kenya to Honolulu

I read on the internets they've been doing that since 1961.