Montana Blocks Trans People From Changing Gender on Birth Certificates
Montana officials at the state’s Department of Public Health and Human Services made a permanent rule on Friday that not blocks trans people from changing their gender on their birth certificates.The rule went into effect on Saturday, according to CNN.Now, birth certificates in Montana can only be changed if something was incorrect on it due to “a scrivener’s error or a data entry error” or if“the sex of the individual was misidentified on the original certificate and the department receives a correction affidavit and supporting documents, … including a copy of the results of chromosomal, molecular, karyotypic, DNA, or genetic testing that identify the sex of the individual.”It also states that sex is “immutable,” and described gender as a “social construct” that changes, the Associated Press reports.The rule change by GOP Gov.
Greg Gianforte’s administration was made less than a week before the state will face LGBTQ+ rights groups in court over the legality of another similar rule made by health officials in May.
