Ohio compelled by court to make gender changes on birth certificates Storm Gifford
One week before the holiday season, a judge fittingly carved up a discriminatory lawsuit like a Christmas goose.
The state of Ohio, which was in court defending its practice of refusing to alter birth certificates based on gender, not only lost its case but was admonished by the presiding jurist.
Shooting down the state’s contention that the certificate policy was meant to maintain accurate records and help prevent fraud, judge Michael Watson offered a sharp rebuke in ruling the practice unconstitutional.
“[They are] nothing more than thinly veiled post-hoc rationales to deflect from the discriminatory impact of the policy,” said the federal judge on Wednesday, The Associated Press reported.
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Court: Ohio must allow gender changes on birth certificates
Mail delivery delays worsen in Northeast Ohio
Northern Ohio US Attorney announces January resignation
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A federal court says Ohio can’t keep refusing to allow people to change the gender listings on their birth certificates.
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio says the birth certificate rule imposed by the state Department of Health and the Office of Vital Statistics is unconstitutional. Ohio was weighing an appeal.
Judge Michael Watson rejected the state of Ohio’s arguments that the policy prevents fraud and maintains historical accuracy as “thinly veiled” excuses for discrimination. Plaintiff Stacie Ray claimed victory for the LGBTQ community.
The ACLU and Lambda Legal, which filed the lawsuit, argued that people born in Ohio can already change the gender listed on their driver s license, passport and social security information, just not their birth certificate.
Gender rule: Ohio must allow birth-certificate changes nydailynews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from nydailynews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
A federal court says Ohio can’t keep refusing to allow people to change the gender listings on their birth certificates.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio says the birth certificate rule imposed by the state Department of Health and the Office of Vital Statistics is unconstitutional. Ohio was weighing an appeal.
Judge Michael Watson rejected the state of Ohio’s arguments that the policy prevents fraud and maintains historical accuracy as “thinly veiled” excuses for discrimination.
Plaintiff Stacie Ray claimed victory for the LGBT community. Ohio was one of the last two states to prohibit such changes.