Before this week, Ohio was one of two states that banned trans people from updating the gender marker listed on their birth certificates. But on Wednesday, a federal court struck down the discriminatory policy in a decisive ruling.
In a strongly worded 28-page opinion, Judge Michael Watson of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio said the state’s four-year-old policy of refusing to correct transgender birth certificates resembled other “discrimination-based legislation.” He specifically cited
Romer v. Evans, a landmark 1996 Supreme Court case finding that Colorado’s ban on LGBTQ+ nondiscrimination protections violated the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
By Sydney Bauer
ATLANTA, Dec 16 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - A U.S. federal court overturned a Ohio state ban on Wednesday that prevented transgender people from changing the sex designation on their birth certificates, in a victory for LGBT+ advocates who said the law led to discrimination and harassment.
The decision found that the ban, implemented by the Midwestern state in 2016, was unconstitutional.
Laws vary among U.S. states regarding trans people changing the sex on birth certificates, with some states requiring medical procedures to be completed.
Only the state of Tennessee does not allow trans people to change the sex on their birth certificate in any circumstance, although the law is under legal challenge.
Supporters of the LGBTQ community hold placards in front of the U.S. Supreme Court last year. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
COLUMBUS, Ohio (CN) A federal judge ruled Wednesday that Ohio’s refusal to let transgender residents change the gender on their birth certificates is unconstitutional, finding the policy exposes them to workplace discrimination and a heightened risk of violence.
U.S. District Judge Michael Watson in Columbus sided with four transgender individuals, represented by Lambda Legal and the ACLU, who sued over the policy two and a half years ago, claiming it violates their equal protection and due process under the 14th Amendment.
By Kaelan Deese - 12/16/20 05:12 PM EST
A federal judge has cleared the way for transgender residents of Ohio to correct the gender on their birth certificates, striking down a former state policy prohibiting such changes.
In his decision Wednesday, Judge Michael Watson pointed out the state had allowed gender changes on birth certificates prior to 2016, alleging the state s policy instituted by Ohio s Department of Health in review with then-Gov. John Kasich s (R) office violated the Constitution, according to court documents.
A spokesperson for ODH responded to the Hill Wednesday evening, saying the decision is still under review by the department.
2 Min Read
ATLANTA (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - A U.S. federal court overturned a Ohio state ban on Wednesday that prevented transgender people from changing the sex designation on their birth certificates, in a victory for LGBT+ advocates who said the law led to discrimination and harassment.
The decision found that the ban, implemented by the Midwestern state in 2016, was unconstitutional.
Laws vary among U.S. states regarding trans people changing the sex on birth certificates, with some states requiring medical procedures to be completed.
Only the state of Tennessee does not allow trans people to change the sex on their birth certificate in any circumstance, although the law is under legal challenge.