New Jersey Governor Chris Christie today vetoed a bill that would
have allowed trans people to change the name on their birth certificate
without undergoing gender reassignment surgery, Think Progress reports.
A birth certificate is an important legal
document. In many instances, the production of a birth certificate is a
prerequisite to obtaining other critical identification documents that
factor into decisions concerning employment, financial services,
education, and travel. Birth certificates are often required to complete
myriad security-related tasks. Accordingly, proposed measures that
revise the standards for the issuance of amended birth certificates may
result in significant legal uncertainties and create opportunities for
fraud, deception, and abuse, and should therefore be closely scrutinized
and sparingly approved.
Unlike many other states, New Jersey
already has an administrative process in place to streamline
applications to amend birth certificates for gender purposes without
court order. Under the proposal before me, however, the sponsors seek to
alter the amended birth certificate application process without
maintaining appropriate safeguards. Consequently, further consideration
is necessary to determine whether to make such significant changes to
State law concerning the issuance of vital records.
Garden State Equality's Executive Director Troy Stephenson released a statement denouncing the veto, calling it a "vindictive move" by Christie:
"Governor Christies veto of this
legislation was a vindictive move to punish the LGBT community after a
year of tremendous progress. This was a simple bureaucratic change,
which would have offered tremendous support to the transgender
community, and have zero effect on anyone else. The governor’s security
argument is disingenuous at best, as there is already a process for one
to change their gender marker; this legislation would simply end an
unnecessary surgical requirement. This malicious use of the veto pen is
shameful and beneath the office of governor.”
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