Could drivers’ licenses for trangender men and woman become a campaign issue in Michigan?
LGBT, NewsBites — By Speak Equal on February 1, 2010 at 8:00 am
Jena Lewis went through a sex change more than five years ago and carries a driver's license that identifies her as a female. PHOTO BY Emily Zoladz | The Grand Rapids Press
Republican Paul Scott, candidate for Michigan Secretary of State, has promised to block the possibility of transgender men and women altering their gender on their drivers’ licenses under any circumstances.
Initially, the policy allowed for alterations to the driver’s license only following sex reassigment surgery. However, in 2005 Jay Kaplan, staff attorney for the ACLU of Michigan’s LGBT Project, along with Transgender Michigan argued against such a discriminatory policy:
The current policy excludes a majority of the transgender community who have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria and are under treatment of medical professionals. Most transgender persons cannot afford sexual reassignment surgery, nor have health insurance that will pay for such surgery.
As a result, the Secretary of State amended its policy, allowing changes to the gender marker on the driver’s license following supporting documentation from a gender therapist.
However, 22 days later, Brian DeBano, the Secretary of State’s Chief of Staff and Chief Operating Officer, reversed Wartella’s decision on April 8, 2005.
“The driver’s license is based on the birth certificate,” said Kelly Chesney, an SOS spokesperson. “As state government we have to be consistent not only between state agencies but also from state to state. In the state of Michigan a court order is required to get a change on a birth certificate. Law enforcement understands that the license is based on a birth certificate so we need to have the license match the certificate.”
Public Concern
Some have deemed Scott’s move unnecessary, accusing him of making a large political issue out of a policy that is currently not doing any harm to the general population.
Michigan resident, Jena Lewis, who went through a sex change more than five years ago, carries a driver’s license that identifies her as a female.
Lewis argued people whose driver’s licenses do not reflect their gender are in danger of being mistreated. In some cases, their treatment needs have been ignored by paramedics or they have been abused by police officers, she said.
Other candidates, including fellow Republican Anne Norlander, of Battle Creek, have stated their intentions to comply with the current policy and seemingly show no interest in changing it. However, anti-gay action groups such as the American Family Association, insist on the importance of repealing the policy:
“I think there are all kinds of implications to the privacy rights of women and children if biological males are given access to health clubs, showers, locker rooms and changing areas [...] “We may sympathize with a tiny minority’s emotional and mental struggles, but that does not absolve the government of its responsibility to tell the truth and not falsify government records.”
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Tags: ACLU, GLBT, LGBT, LGBT, Michigan, Paul Scott, Secretary of State, transgender, transsexual
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Paul Scott is a tasteless cretin who’s trying to make a name for himself by exploiting segments of the population he sees as easy targets. But shame on the ACLU, Michigan’s LGBT Project and Transgender Michigan for implying in their quoted statement that all transgendered folk must want sexual reassignment surgery.
To correlate with the majority of you,should the Republican Conservative fundies make an “issue” out of the DL marker at this point in time? At all? I mean realistically, should this topic be an added ingrediant to the current severe concerns that we face in the State of Michigan? With our economy remaining in the tank, Health Care costs(if your privilaged to have any) through the roof, and along the way, the world is still focused and continuing to lend support to Haiti?
This is what I know to be real, honest and true. I’m 37 yrs old. I’m Biologically female. My DL has had the label “male” gender on it since I have been 16 yrs old. However, I am also Gender Queer. I have never surgically altered my body by any means. I embrace both my “feminine” & “masculine” traits. I am very happy living/looking more “masculine” as with my outer appearance to reflect that part to society. Having my License reflect that part of me, has been a literal godsend! I’ve never had a problem occur with this arraingement. As a matter of fact, my life has improved because of it. If it were to be labled as female, I know for certain that I would of had many more complications arise in my life because of my outer apperance. Especially, job wise.
For someone to come along now, after all these years, and tell me that I have to now, potentially, go back to something that never was there to begin with, well, that will never occur. Plain and simple.
I can’t fathom why the fundies have the unrealistic notion that ONLY people of the “assigned sex” are put in an uncomfortable,uneasy, harmful, dangerous situation here. Correct me if I’m mistaking, common sense wise, which would make more sense: Ftm using the Womens bathroom and risk the odds of giving the elderly ladies a coronary or: using the mens facility’s where the risk is more minimal of being noticed? Same goes for the Mtf’s. We are all human. Our bodies all have the same function. Now, How do you think it feels for the Transgenders/GQ population? Not jolly, I assure you. We just want to go in, do our buisness and leave. Just like everyone else. We don’t ask or desire to be harassed, teased, or threatned. Especially, at a time when privacy is of upmost importance. As I stated before, we are all human. We are not Xmen or some other form of mutant.
As matter of fact, I seek out Venues and establishments that specifically have unisex bathrooms. Oh, How about the gyms? lOADS of fun there. Do you really think I enjoy going into an open area to change into my workout clothes and risk the chance of being “outed” and bullied by the naked men around me? I stress it each and everytime when I have no other choice but to go in there to change into my workout gear after work/school. When I workout, I’m Kerry. I don’t try to hide my body or the curves that it contains. Should I have to? Do you not think I fret about being kicked out of the predominantly hetro facility because of this? Do I deserve that? Does anybody? I go there because I deserve to be there. I enjoy to be fit. I’m a decent hard working human being who shouldn’t be afraid to live my natural life.
If certain people really want to look into a real issue here why not go to the core of it first. Gender Binary is a polorizing,archaic, mode of social classification. It needs to be addressed and reformed by the educators, sociologists,etc. It should not be exploited as if it were part of the salem witch trials, only this time, it’s a political witch hunt. If more of you would like to contact Rep Paul Scott to express your thoughts, opinions, or concerns such as I did, contact: PaulScott&house.mi.gov
correction: PaulScott@house.mi.gov
This is ludicy, in what way is the correct id (in referance to sex) hurting the public at all? When you read things like this you kinda get an idea of why many important types of legislature take years to go through. Mostly because of the wasted energy on mundane issues that arent even issues in the first place. The local government makes these things issues. Oh in the sake of keeping faith with our community what can be done to end such lude behavior in our states government? It’s as if the fact we are human is ignored entirely let alone the fact we live in the land of the free.
In these very hard economic times do we really need to be spending money fighting to change a policy that isn’t broken? Perhaps, we could focus more on the real issues such as jobs, our skyrocketing unemployment rates, crime (actual crime, not the made up hysteria of public restrooms)and I don’t know our failing public educational system? Maybe we could discuss our broken health care system?
I am currently employed as a registered nurse working in an ICU, and formerly a level 1 trauma center, I have never refused treatment to anyone, regardless of their race, gender, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, party affiliation or age. The idea that we should change this policy to not allow a persons drivers license to reflect their appropriate gender, is to me the equivalent to me not performing CPR on you, because your voter registration says you are a republican.
Fear of something you clearly don’t understand, and refuse to educate yourself about, does not give you the right to change policy, while wasting precious tax dollars.
I also would like to add that I have never been asked to show my ID or my genitals to use the bathroom. I find it very interesting that the well known cases involving bathroom arrests in Michigan have been heterosexual(at least thats what they say) men in mens rooms. As these men try to fight for my rights in the womans room, I am baffled… I am fine, in 38 years I have never had to have you defend my bathroom, or fitting rooms, so please don’t feel the need now.
Lori D RN,BSN
Agreed sis. the drivers license gender should mean nothing. Especially since this whole thing can be cleared up with the appropriate explanation/documentation if necessary. This sounds to me like yet another ploy of the right to deprive honest hardworking citizens of there right to live and love as they please simply on the basis that…their sensibilities were damaged. Get over it stop looking at the small things such as gender on a piece of plastic, and look to other more important issues. Hmmmmm i don’t know the economy…the dismal heath care system? Or perhaps the inadequate education being given to our students? Any of that ring a bell? Thanks for bringing this to our attention Brooke the community needs this..
This issue isn’t about religion. It’s not about the moral or immoral implications of people who choose to change gender. It’s not even about how many people it does or does not impact. And it’s certainly not about politics, or a part of the ongoing war between political parties.
This issue is about people living their lives, and the right to privacy. Transgender people who complete the process want to live happy normal lives. This issue is about whether their drivers license should reflect what gender they ARE or what gender they WERE.
Personally, I believe in living in the present and not in the past.
This whole issue makes me sick. I can not believe some right wing nut would decide to make such an issue out of this. SERIOUSLY, is the greater threat to me and my children in a locker room or to the poor woman forced to use a men’s bathroom or locker room. She is obviously in much greater danger than I am. I do not like that this person essentially called transgender people perverts or child molesters.
Sadly the Michigan Republicans have planned to make their social policy focus in 2010 to be about the LBGT community. To make a negative issue to the majority of voters who do not understand or know much if anything about the Transgender community. This is why the Michigan Dems LBGTA Caucus has meet and is working to oppose this negative spin as much as possible. Jena Lewis is a volunteer and congressional district chair for the Caucus, and is just one of many who are hoping to do more education then fellow trash sayer Gary Glenn at the American Family Association.
I am deeply offended by this, as are many others including my friend Jena Lewis who is addresses this in the article. As a Executive Board member of the Michigan Democratic Party Lesbian Bisexual Transgender and Allied Caucus I am very happy to report we are already geared up to oppose this candidate and are working with full endorsement to the trans supportive candidate for SOS Jocelyn Benson who you can learn more about at her campaign website: http://www.votebenson.com/
You report: “As a result, the Secretary of State amended its policy, allowing changes to the gender marker on the driver’s license following supporting documentation from a gender therapist.”
You fail to report, however, that that change in policy lasted only 22 days and was reversed as soon as it was brought to the Secretary of State’s attention, who claimed that she had not personally been aware of or approved the change.
See story from Between the Lines:
http://www.pridesource.com/article.html?article=14010
Since the ACLU will undoubtedly press the next Sec. of State to reimplement the “no surgery required” policy, it’s entirely appropriate for Paul Scott to indicate where he stands on doing so. So should all other SOS candidates.
Thank you for taking the time to visit our site and comment on our article. You are correct in citing that we did not report the repeal of the “no surgery required” policy.
However, I would like you to understand the horror with which progressive members of our community regard Rep. Scott’s current statements. Currently, with proper documentation (and yes, sex reassignment surgery), transgender members of our community can seek to have the gender marker altered on their driver’s license. Rep. Scott seeks to make this completely impossible under any circumstances, so he has committed to move us backward, not forward.
We are speaking of hardworking, tax-paying citizens, not simply the “small minority” terminology you have used to marginalize and dehumanize this population. Please feel free to prove me wrong, but I am assuming that you are not first-hand familiar with the experiences of transgender members of our community. As such, you may not be familiar with the fact that the majority of them are nowhere near as focused on their ability to utilize the opposite sex bathroom as you think they are. The majority of our transgender brothers and sisters simply seek harmony between who they are on the inside and who they appear to be on the outside. I’m sure you view this as a crime against humanity, however I assure you that it is not.
Personally, I have not felt harm in reaction to the presence of an “F” or “M” on a person’s driver’s license, have you? Also, how does ensuring the rights of a community member somehow disallow us the right to charge and prosecute a predator? I know the difference between a predator and an innocent … do you?
Gary Glenn is once again only telling a 1/2 truth. The 22 day reversal was bringing the policy back to the way it was prior to the 2005 change. At that time there was a 22 day period where surgery was not required for your gender marker change to occur. However currently you cannot have your gender marker changed on your identification UNLESS you have had completed surgery of your primary sexual characteristics. Having a breast augmentation, FFS, or hysterectomy/bilateral orcioctomy is not enough to get your gender marker changed.
Further Gary claims the AFA is worried about “rights of…children if biological males are given access to health clubs, showers, locker rooms and changing areas” But what of the little boys that would be seriously confused by a person with vulva and breasts taking showers in the same room as his daddy?
Mr. Glen, what you report is not shocking to me in the least I have seen you in action several times now. As a Kzooer I saw you and your organization calling the Kalamazoo City Ordinance to end discrimation, as “special rights” and that we were “zoo-sexuals” which we just made us laugh and ask what is that!
I personally saw you in the capital the Hate Crime hearing when the Caucus Board arrived on break supporting the lobby day for anti bullying with enumeration, to give testimony against your fear speech on the House Hate Crime Bill.
You again strike, and again say its not wanted. Well I have news for you, the MDP is on the ball this year with LBGT issues being the social policy focus of Republicans and organizations like you. It will be mine and many other fine citizens please to counter you lies and mis-information and focus on the bathrooms and children games all year to put education and not fear and misunderstanding out.
SOS candidate Jolelyn Benson has been endorse by our caucus because she sees that its not about your fear of children and rape, there are already state laws for that, its about using the appropriate bathroom for the appropriate gender. Simple as that. So unless you have new fear tactics I ask you to stop spreading false information.
Issuing driver’s licence is a major victory for transgenders.
It is a major victory, especially in a state as politically conservative as Michigan. However, it is a victory that is threatened should we not speak out immediately against the ignorant statements issued by Rep. Paul Scott.