US: Gender non-conforming teen forced to ‘look like a boy’ for driver’s license

[Olivia P]

16th June 2014, 2:27 PM
LAST UPDATED AT 5:01 PM
Nick Duffy

A gender non-conforming teen applying for their driver's license was forced to "look more like a boy" for their license photo.

Chase Culpepper, 16 – who wears make-up and women's clothing – was applying for a license at the Department of Motor Vehicles office in Anderson, South Carolina, but was told to "look more like a boy" because regulations prohibit license photos taken in "disguise".

The DMV worker refused to take the photo while Culpepper was wearing women's clothes and make-up.
Culpepper said: "This is who I am and my clothing and makeup reflect that

More: http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2014/06/16/us-gender-non-confirming-teen-forced-to-look-like-a-boy-for-drivers-license-photo/

[Olivia P]

So the DMV forced them to have a picture on their license of them in disguise as the true them doesn't meet the DMV's gender stereotypes?

OK.....

[Jo-is-amazing]

Kinda get that...
It's not necessarily ok... in fact in my view it isn't
But the DMV was not acting out of prejudice or hatred, just doing their job and realistically unless the 'gender non-conforming boy' (don't know proper pronouns for this case srry ) fell into the normal gender categories, I can't blame them

[Nero]

Kinda get that...
It's not necessarily ok... in fact in my view it isn't
But the DMV was not acting out of prejudice or hatred, just doing their job and realistically unless the 'gender non-conforming boy' (don't know proper pronouns for this case srry ) fell into the normal gender categories, I can't blame them

That's what I thought at first. But if he normally dresses that way, the license should reflect that. If he only occasionally crossdresses, I can see the 'disguise' angle. But not if that's how he always presents.

[Jill F]

OK, so FAABs can't wear jeans, t-shirts or anything stereotypically male?

No wigs, hairpieces or dyed hair then?

I'd have Gloria Allred up in their butts so fast.  What happened to freedom of expression?

[Hikari]

That's what I thought at first. But if he normally dresses that way, the license should reflect that. If he only occasionally crossdresses, I can see the 'disguise' angle. But not if that's how he always presents.

This was my train of thought too however; this law is senseless, after all if makeup and a dress does a disguise make then women who decided not to "put on their face" one morning to run errands are going to confuse cops who pull them over? This is just silly, so long as the face is clearly visible then the ID serves it's purpose, because Clark Kent's disguise only works in comic books.

I would say it is a clear case of low tier bureaucratic overreach.

[Missamy]

I don't live far away from the area, and it does have a lot of social conservatives. I can imagine the ID photo taker was not exactly fond of people like us. It's a stupid policy.

[dalebert]

For this to make any sense at all, the need to apply it consistently, i.e. nobody can wear make-up or certain clothes for their license photo. If make-up isn't a "disguise" for women, it's not one for men. It's genderism, it's a double-standard, and it's wrong.

That's what I thought at first. But if he normally dresses that way, the license should reflect that. If he only occasionally crossdresses, I can see the 'disguise' angle. But not if that's how he always presents.

I can see the reasoning here. The problem is how do they know how you normally present? It's pretty going to be honor system anyway. The only way they can know is to ask you how you normally present.

[dalebert]

Maybe he just doesn't fit the gender binary right now. Maybe he just likes looking like a feminine man. Maybe he'll decide to transition and present as a woman later. I don't think it matters. They don't have any business telling him how to dress or that he can't wear make-up.

[LordKAT]

I know here that no hats or wigs are allowed for DL pictures.

[Jill F]

I know here that no hats or wigs are allowed for DL pictures.

Hats, yes.  But wigs and hairpieces can be semi-permanent.  Do you think they would have told John Travolta or my grandmother to remove theirs?

[LordKAT]

Hats, yes.  But wigs and hairpieces can be semi-permanent.  Do you think they would have told John Travolta or my grandmother to remove theirs?

I honestly have no idea. I just know what I was told when I had mine taken last time. First time it was ever told to me for that matter.

[Jill F]

I honestly have no idea. I just know what I was told when I had mine taken last time. First time it was ever told to me for that matter.

I can see the logic if it's a purple party wig, but I'd love to see them try to do it to someone who is bald underneath.

Hey, maybe I should dye my hair purple for my DL pic next month and try to tell them it's my natural hair color.   

[LordKAT]

Good luck on that.

[Vicky]

My California DL says Blond in the written portion of it, and yet they had no problem taking a picture of my RED hair when I did my gender change.  Go ahead and dye your hair purple next time Jill, our folks here will just tell you to get the hair out of your face for your next DL picture. 

[EmoAlice]

We have black and white photos for ID here.  How are police supposed to know it's us without a skin color to match?  Pretty sure that's just as ridiculous of an argument as the light amount of makeup this kid was wearing before they made him take it off.

[suzifrommd]

I know here that no hats or wigs are allowed for DL pictures.

Not so here. No one gave me any problem with my wig. The lady knew I was trans too, but the philosophy here is to have the picture look they way people present in real life. They even let me wear my glasses.

[Hikari]

We have black and white photos for ID here.  How are police supposed to know it's us without a skin color to match?  Pretty sure that's just as ridiculous of an argument as the light amount of makeup this kid was wearing before they made him take it off.

I remember when I got my cdl renewed at the VA DMV when they handed me a B&W license back and I was confused, the DMV worker then told me these were more accurate lol nothing was wrong with the color license, they just wanted to change for the sake of change I swear.