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[videogamer]

But without an official name change, transgender people cannot use the new name on leases, credit cards, insurance records or college transcripts.

And the steps required to change the basic documents — Social Security cards, driver's licenses and passports — can be confusing and sometimes unfair, advocates said.

The increasing concerns of identity theft have made name-change processes for transgender people even more difficult to undertake, attorneys said.

"Identity theft is a very real and growing problem," said Michael Hernandez, an attorney who helps transgender people with their name changes. "I don't think anybody really gave much thought about how it impacted the transgender community."

Usually, the process of changing one's name is relatively easy and in most cases it requires just a marriage license or divorce decree. For transgender people, the process — which varies from agency to agency — is more complicated because they must change both their name and their sex.

Advocates say the policies are insensitive because they don't "correspond to the everyday experiences of transgender people."

"I don't think it's the confusion that frustrates people; it's the injustice that frustrates people," said Christopher Daley of the San Francisco-based Transgender Law Center. "It's complicated not because there's different policies; it's complicated because many policies are operating from a place of ignorance."

But government officials said their policies were in place to prevent identity theft.

The California Department of Motor Vehicles allows for transgender people to change their name and sex designation with a one-page form that must be signed by a physician. No sexual reassignment surgery is required. The federal Social Security Administration, however, requires proof of surgery before its records are changed. The State Department needs a court order before it will change a name and sex designation on a passport.

"It goes back to security," said Kelly Shannon, a spokeswoman for the Bureau of Consular Affairs, which is in charge of issuing passports. "We want some legal recognition that this person is the person who they say they are."

In California, the Superior Court will only grant such an order with proof of surgery for a sex change and $297.50 to file papers. The court requires that an advertisement be placed in a newspaper for four weeks announcing the change. The ad is to alert interested parties, such as tenants and creditors, of the identity change.

The Social Security Administration tightened its policy in 2002 to require proof of surgery.

"Before, we found situations where some people did change their gender on our records before their surgery was completed," said Mark Lassiter of Social Security. "Later they changed their minds and it created inaccuracies in our records. We need our records to be accurate."

For many, such as Brenna and her partner Jessie Jacobson, 44, who live as women and take estrogen hormones, surgery is not a part of their plans. For some, it's too costly. For others, the health risks are too severe.

"For me, personally, it's a form of mutilation," Jacobson said. "I don't believe it's appropriate for me."

So Brenna, Jacobson and others who have chosen not to go through surgery have conflicting identification cards, attorneys said.

That may pose a problem when applying for jobs, where employers routinely compare a job seeker's information against government records.

Some transgender people say a policy that releases gender information to employers and doesn't allow records to be changed without surgery is dangerous and careless.

Sarah Schoolcraft worries that after she starts applying for jobs and checks the "Female" box, employers verifying that information with Social Security will know she is transgender.

"Suddenly, what restroom I use becomes an issue," said the Long Beach resident, who has been living as a woman for the last decade. "If you don't want to change my status, don't out me."

Those who have stood in lines, filled out forms or approached officials behind counters say the process can be time consuming, costly and uncomfortable.

"I was very nervous," Brenna said of her DMV experience. "You're standing in line and you have to reveal something intimate to a stranger."

Rest of article at
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-namechange28aug28,1,2952709.story

 

[Matlock]

You made your bed, you gotta sleep in it.

 

[teiresias]

The court requires that an advertisement be placed in a newspaper for four weeks announcing the change. The ad is to alert interested parties, such as tenants and creditors, of the identity change.

W . . . T . . . F . . .!!!

 

[videogamer]

You made your bed, you gotta sleep in it.

But sometimes people are unwilling to undergo surgery, opting for hormone therapy instead. These people run into trouble with the Social Security people because the SS requires surgery for record changes.

 

[Error Macro]

I think these people should have their skin dyed magenta, so as to quickly identify them in public, preventing any inappropriate and embarassing mistakes.

 

[videogamer]

I think these people should have their skin dyed magenta, so as to quickly identify them in public, preventing any inappropriate and embarassing mistakes.

The ones with hormone therapy or the ones that have undergone surgery?

 

[Error Macro]

The ones with hormone therapy or the ones that have undergone surgery?

Hmm, I would have to say both.

 

[videogamer]

Hmm, I would have to say both.

But generally they consider themselves to be the new sex. The old gender is history... why make big deal out of it?

 

[Error Macro]

But generally they consider themselves to be the new sex. The old gender is history... why make big deal out of it?

For the same reason I wouldn't want to drive a Volkswagen Jetta that someone re-badged with Porsche 911 emblems.

 

[videogamer]

For the same reason I wouldn't want to drive a Volkswagen Jetta that someone re-badged with Porsche 911 emblems.

Some transgender people can be VERY convincing. They look just like their new gender.

 

[The Faceless Master]

so basically, they want to change their sex on paper withiout proof?

shit, i want to get bank loans without proof too...

 

[maharg]

so basically, they want to change their sex on paper withiout proof?

shit, i want to get bank loans without proof too...

You get money out of changing your gender??? OMG

 

[ManDudeChild]

Hmm, I would have to say both.

I'm inclined to agree. Especially with the attitude some of them have over their sexuality, in respect to not telling others. Then getting offended when those embarassing situations come up.

 

[The Faceless Master]

You get money out of changing your gender??? OMG

well, you can if you're better at attrcting people in your new sexual form...

 

[maharg]

well, you can if you're better at attrcting people in your new sexual form...

... If that's the case, let them be I think this situation is ... somewhat rare however.

 

[Phoenix]

If you're still a male or woman (as defined by basic biology) then your sex shouldn't change on paper - that's just not sensical. You should however be able to change you name to whatever whenever you want. Just don't be surprised if the myriad of systems in the country don't overnight with your new information.

 

[maharg]

If you're still a male or woman (as defined by basic biology) then your sex shouldn't change on paper - that's just not sensical. You should however be able to change you name to whatever whenever you want. Just don't be surprised if the myriad of systems in the country don't overnight with your new information.

I believe there are logical reasons for it to change on paper. For example, obtaining the legal right to use the bathroom of the gender you have assumed (as, assuming you have done a good job making yourself look the opposite gender, you will probably want to do to avoid any kind of scene), or the right to marry (same sex marriage potentially becoming legal notwithstanding). And as mentioned, there are reasons NOT to get the surgery, even if you need to change everything else about your gender identity.

 

[Phoenix]

I believe there are logical reasons for it to change on paper. For example, obtaining the legal right to use the bathroom of the gender you have assumed (as, assuming you have done a good job making yourself look the opposite gender, you will probably want to do to avoid any kind of scene), or the right to marry (same sex marriage potentially becoming legal notwithstanding). And as mentioned, there are reasons NOT to get the surgery, even if you need to change everything else about your gender identity.

If you have a penis - you need to be in the men's room.

 

[teiresias]

If you have a penis - you need to be in the men's room.

You obviously haven't seen some of these transgenered people that still have a penis. Aside from what's in their skirt they otherwise look just like women.

 

[Cauliflower of Love]

What if you have a pipi and boobies? What then smart guy?

 

[Phoenix]

What if you have a pipi and boobies? What then smart guy?

I've seen men with breast

 

[Phoenix]

You obviously haven't seen some of these transgenered people that still have a penis. Aside from what's in their skirt they otherwise look just like women.

No its a matter of legal practicality. There are certain legal constraints that go into the design of a bathroom in a corporate office. In most situations such as these corporate policy is to make a third 'unisex' bathroom to handle the situation.

 

[NLB2]

I've seen men with breast

 

[Zaptruder]

I wonder how many of the people that have stopped short of removing their dicks, have sex with women?

Kinky.

 

[EarthStormFire]

I read about how a person in California was born looking like a girl. So doctors thought this person was a girl. This person grew up thinking they were a girl, untill they hit puberty. When they hit puberty two testicles apeared, and a penis grew. Their apearance changed from female to male. Genetically this person was always male, but it wasn't till puberty that his apearnced showed it. So you would think it would be easy for him to have his name changed, and his gender changed on the record from female to male. But California refused to allow him to change his changer. It was only after more than 20 years of legal battles was California forced to allow him to change his gender on the record books, and to allow him to change his name on all of the record books, 20 freaken years. He had to live with a womans name, and his gender said female, even though he was clearly a male.

 

[Error Macro]

??? WTF

Did the dude have a wench trench? Or was the gooch baron? Perplexing.

 

[DCX]

Ummm...ithink they have bigger issues about chaging things than just thier names...

DCX

 

[EarthStormFire]

The disorder I mention, the person is physically identical to girls before puberty , except for 1 thing. They even have a uterus and felopian tube, whats at the end of the tube is different. Instead of overies, there are testicales. So when they reach puberty, the testicales and felopian tubes will decend, and the vagina will change its shape in too a penis.

 

[Cauliflower of Love]

http://www.bluevespa.supanet.com/Scooters/Hemsby02/Large/Man%20with%20breasts.JPG

Someone needs to step it up a notch and post the picture of the guy from tha man show that made a bet.

 

[Error Macro]

Someone needs to step it up a notch and post the picture of the guy from tha man show that made a bet.

I could grab some stills from my DVD, but I'm eating lunch right now. And after that, I need to let my food digest in peace.