New Jersey residents who seek legal name changes no longer have to take out ads in newspapers to announce the move.
The rule amendment from the New Jersey Supreme Court is seen as a major win for transgender individuals who, according to advocates for the transgender community, often cite financial hardship when attempting to legally change their identity documents, and safety concerns making their transgender status public. Removing the requirement for people to publish name changes in the newspaper gives transgender and nonbinary people the dignity and privacy that they deserve, added Christian Fuscarino, executive director of Garden State Equality. We know transgender (individuals) face some of the highest rates of violence in the country.
New Jersey makes it easier for trans people to change their name
Trans people were previously required to announce their desired name change in a local newspaper two separate times
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Trans Pride flag – Photo: Ted Eytan – Flickr
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court of New Jersey abolished requirements that transgender people who obtain court-ordered name changes must publish their former and new names in a newspaper of record.
The provision, which dates back to times when a gender transition was difficult to undergo, and when most states required either a court order, evidence of having undergone gender confirmation surgery, or both.
The Supreme Court in New Jersey overturned a rule that required trans and non-binary people to publish details of a legal name change in a newspaper. (Envato Elements)
Trans and non-binary people in New Jersey will no longer have to take out a newspaper advert telling the public that they have legally changed their name after a discriminatory rule was finally overturned.
The New Jersey Supreme Court amended the rule on Tuesday (15 December) after LGBT+ advocacy organisations detailed the harm the harm the policy could cause to trans people.
Under the terms of the rule, all people who legally changed their name in New Jersey were obliged to take out a newspaper advert detailing their new name and their deadname.