My name change was denied.. And I don't know what to do next

[Anova1]

My name is Alex and I have been on T for 7 months. I am also scheduled to have top surgery with Dr.Garramone on May 8. I am unable to withdraw money from my bank account because they do not believe that I could have a female name (which is still legal), I am unable to get into bars without being completely humiliated, and I am currently struggling with graduate school and job applications bc I used my new name (Alexander) thinking that it could not possibly be rejected by a judge.

Judge Polito in Rochester is infamous for denying trans name changes, and I was unaware of that until I heard that he had my name change petition. I got the letter yesterday saying that it was denied bc I did not provide medical proof. This is unjust because that is not required for a name change and he should have contacted me if he needed more paperwork.

I'm feeling really alone in this process. I don't have money, I don't have a lawyer, and I don't have supportive parents. I have no idea what to do next but I'm terrified of getting denied again and losing another $210 that I really can't afford.

Does anyone know what I can do in this situation? Can I file my petition in another county or do I have to live there? Also, is there a way to appeal this? I just need my name to change before I graduate otherwise I will lose my opportunity for a fresh start after college.

Thank you,
Alex Novarro

[JessicaH]

If you would like help here, it would help if we knew what country you live in and if in the US at least a state. There is probably a Rochester in every state of the union, there is a Rochester England, Rochester Australia and so on.

[tekla]

That judge is in Rochester NY.

[veritatemfurto]

Alex,

Hate to say this but a simple googling of Mr. Polito reveals that he is in the same club as Limbaugh and o'Bachman. ( as Letterman says it :p)

You shouldn't worry about talking to a lawyer at this point, as consultations should be free.

You CAN appeal your case and win, its happened several times before. You should be able to file a complaint as well with the state Judicial system with him having a very visual track record of undue bias.

If you explain your situation in full detail to the Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund, National Center for Transgender Equality, and the ACLU, one or all of them may take your case with an indigent status.
(Indigent means you have no financial means to hire an attorney to defend you, and therefore need a taxpayer funded legal council to represent you.)


This has made headlines before in 2006: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/transgendernews/message/16454?var=1 (the links within the post no longer work)

And was addressed in 2009: http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/21/ruling-eases-transgender-name-change-petitions/

Given that last article, it was ruled by the State Supreme Court that you do not need to have medical proof for a transgender related name change, Which therefore means that Mr Polito is in VIOLATION of STATE LAW, and you likely have a right to sue.


Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund
http://transgenderlegal.org/
151 West 19th Street
Suite 1103
New York, New York 10011
Phone: 646.862.9396
Fax: 914.920.4057
Email: info@transgenderlegal.org*
(* Please note that we are unable to provide legal advice by electronic mail.  If you need legal assistance, please call our office to speak with a member of our intake staff.)



The National Center for Transgender Equality
http://transequality.org/
1325 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: 202-903-0112
Fax: 202-393-2241
Email NCTE: NCTE@transequality.org



ACLU (New York Civil Liberties Union)
http://www.aclu.org
LOCAL WEB: http://www.nyclu.org
Executive Director: Donna Lieberman
125 Broad Street, 19th Floor
New York, NY 10004
Phone: (212) 607-3300
Fax: (212) 607-3318
VIEW THIS FIRST => http://www.nyclu.org/content/getting-legal-assistance

[Anova1]

I applied in Monroe County, NY, USA.

Thanks for the advice. I will contact some lgbt organizations and work through my options. I am really in shock that this happened. If I had known this judge had my papers, I would have cancelled it and started over. Hopefully something good will come of this for future trans individuals.

[Anova1]

Thank you again for the info.

The transgender legal and education fund in NYC won a case like this a few years ago and they are willing to take on my case and appeal the decision. It's a difficult decision, because it may take 6-8 months to actually have my name changed. However, it will almost guarantee that this type of discrimination can not occur here in the future.

[veritatemfurto]

you're quite welcome Alex, glad i could help! Ignorant people like that tick me off and i hope they can take it to the next step and get him disbarred from doing name changes. (i would say to sue for reparations for the setbacks in employment and education this is now causing you, but doubt  that TLEF has the means to do so... wouldn't hurt to ask though!)

keep in touch and let us know how things turn out!

[ToriJo]

Thank you for pursuing this! I am greatful every time someone goes to court to ensure that people's rights are respected.

[Chloe]

I applied in Monroe County, NY, USA.

Anova, look and contact HERE - perhaps they can offer some insight as to how to proceed ?

[Sad Girl]

In my country too was the same crap but even worse. Denial of name change, no Health care for transgenders, no endos for trans, all homophobics discriminative psychologist & doctors, same for lawyers, hostile public day to day, you´re so traumatized of the whole world that you live in your little corner till I finally decided to move to Europe where all is a heaven here and I think you need to just save your money and go to another trans friendly country or state/province of your country, it´s your last resort if ever they deny your name change.