As a Virginian, I want to state my support for the updates to 12 VAC 5-550. These important updates will remove outdated language and clarify the gender change process for Virginia birth certificates. Every person in Virginia should have access to identity documents that accurately reflect who they are so they can live and work in the Commonwealth without experiencing discrimination and harassment.

Transgender people need to have identity documents that accurately reflect their gender, regardless of whether or not they have had gender confirming surgeries. Many transgender people do not want surgery, cannot afford surgery, or heave health issues that won’t allow them to have surgery. Having an accurate gender marker on a birth certificate is oftentimes essential for updating other identity documents and it allows transgender people to live without being ‘outed’ as transgender or discriminated against because of their old gender marker. According to the US Transgender Survey, one in four transgender Virginians faced some level of mistreatment after showing an ID that did not match their gender presentation.