DC Council set to vote on changing transgender birth certificate requirements

Currently the District of Columbia requires Sexual Reassignment Surgery and three weeks of advertising in local news papers before a transgender person can amend their birth certificate. But that's all about to change.

NBC Washington reports: The D.C. Council Judiciary Committee voted to wipe away a lot of those restrictions on sex identity changes, approving a proposal that would require only a certified statement from a medical doctor and would eliminate the publicity and surgery requirements.

“I'm proud that we are doing this during pride week,” Councilmember Tommy Wells said. “It's a time when we recognize equality among all District residents.”

If passed, the new law also would issue a new birth certificate rather than simply amending the old one. Amended birth certificates are clear tipoffs for more discrimination.

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