Is it too early to legally change my name and gender?

[CindyLouFromCO]

there would be less suspicion of fraudulent intent from the judge.

What?  Judges just go by the rule of the state.  The judge does not go through your records and decide if you're fit for a name change or not.  They don't care.  If you were a criminal and a you are on probation then they may not allow you to lock or hide your name change records.  There is no fraudulent intent at all by judges doing name changes.  So there can't be even less fraudulent intent by a judge.

Just change your name and if the form asks for previous names put down your old name.  Or just use your current name.

If 100 people apply for that job they will be looking for reasons to discard applications.  If you think they are worried about judges being fraudulent or less fraudulent then you better be worried about hiding your dead name in a background check.

[tgchar21]

CindyLou - What I meant is that for example someone who has been an adult for awhile is more likely to be seeking a name change for nefarious reasons than one who just came of age. Actually it would probably be irrelevant, especially with a reason like a gender change, but rather there is no increased scrutiny from a legal perspective because one is the OP's age (and if there is any difference however slight it'd be the other way around).

Another point about "omitting your dead name": In no case am I asking for "special treatment" because one is transgender, but rather if they would not hold it against a cisgender person who changed their name at said age and with the same background if they failed to mention the irrelevant former name - while they do hold it against a transgender person for not deadnaming themselves with the same name change logistics - then that is discrimination. If you ask those in charge like I've suggested multiple times on here in writing, then you have proof of differential treatment if they then turn around and say you omitted your dead name.

[CindyLouFromCO]

I see your point.

I agree.  I'd rather not be mistreated or treated differently just because I'm transgender.  Unemployment is higher in the transgender community because of this and other reasons.

I hope you get the job you're after.  We need more transgender people in law enforcement or working with law enforcement.

[tgchar21]

CindyLou - I apologize for how hectic this thread has become. At least you, unlike Christine, have replied with your thoughts on the actual issue and not just a generic "be honest" reply that doesn't really address my point (when I'm not actually even advocating being dishonest but rather communicating the necessary information in other ways that are not as likely to out yourself).

[christinej78]

CindyLou - I apologize for how hectic this thread has become. At least you, unlike Christine, have replied with your thoughts on the actual issue and not just a generic "be honest" reply that doesn't really address my point (when I'm not actually even advocating being dishonest but rather communicating the necessary information in other ways that are not as likely to out yourself).

OK Tgchar12,                    08 January 2019

So, I didn't address your position on name, just a generic be honest reply? I get the impression you have never filled out a BG Check form nor have you ever had to. I wouldn't expect McDonalds to require them. On most BG check forms they ask for any and all names you have ever used or gone by. Not answering or doing what you advocate is lying: "(when I'm not actually even advocating being dishonest but rather communicating the necessary information in other ways that are not as likely to out yourself)." What is that, a new definition of truth?

Most likely you have never served in the military of this country nor have you been in law enforcement. Not answering a question or supplying an answer that is not factual is Lying. What is it you do not understand about lying, dishonesty and/or telling the truth?

I looked at your profile. Lots of non-information there. It looks like the way you filled it out is like the way you advocate filling out a BG Check form. Compare your profile to mine: My avatar is a real picture of me w/o the benefit of Photo Shop. My date of birth, city and state of residence, my actual age and some of my posts list my current legal name and the name I will have once I change it legally this month. Who has more credibility here?

My opinion is you are looking for justification of your opinion about what someone should do when confronted with a BG Check. Here is all they need to do: Tell the Truth, the Whole Truth and Nothing But the Truth. Here's all you need to do: Whatever you want.

My advice to everyone, except tgchar21, is be truthful, it's the only way you can win in the long haul.

TG, You're on your own.

Best Always, Love
Christine

[tgchar21]

Christine, I think where you and I differ is that you define a "background check" more narrowly to mean the investigations when you are getting a security clearance, law enforcement job, etc. - while I infer that as the general checks a typical employer (like your McDonald's example) does (and as those links from managers/HR people I provided several posts up said those kinds of jobs do NOT care about names you never used after childhood, even if they may need to know about other names you used more recently as an adult to contact references or verify credentials).

[tgchar21]

I looked at your profile. Lots of non-information there.

Same thing with the OP's (and beyond the site's optional fields probably a significant number if not a majority of members here).

[christinej78]

Same thing with the OP's (and beyond the site's optional fields probably a significant number if not a majority of members here).

It is obvious to me you like to argue from an indefensible position, changing the definition as you go. I'll stick with what I have said. the initial post was about getting a job in the Sherriff's office. Jobs in law enforcement require Background Checks. Background Checks are not employment applications, they are two separate issues.

I'm going to stop trying to educate you.

Best Always, Love
Chris

[tgchar21]

Christine, sorry about me confusing when a generic job application asks about previous names vs. when asked for a law enforcement/security clearance. (There are also many other ways they differ, in that the latter can ask LOTS of personal questions that are verboten for most employment.)

[tgchar21]

One more thing: I remember on here from several years ago we had a member put down something like "Available to authorized investigator only" in the former names section of a form like what Christine or the OP would've seen, the investigator contacted her (the transwoman from that post) about the name, she provided it directly to the investigator, and the background check was successful. Would you consider that a "lie" or not - as I had suggested the outcome wasn't affected, just a slightly different process that provided more privacy.

(I don't intend for this argument to go on now that I realize my confusion - just another thing that I now thought of that I recall on here.)

ETA: I dug up the post I was talking about. (Admittedly upon looking closer at the post that background check was in Canada about 40 years ago, but the same basic principle should still apply.)

[christinej78]

I see your point.

I agree.  I'd rather not be mistreated or treated differently just because I'm transgender.  Unemployment is higher in the transgender community because of this and other reasons.

I hope you get the job you're after.  We need more transgender people in law enforcement or working with law enforcement.

Hi Cindy Lou,                           09 January 2019

You are absolutely correct, we do need more Trans folks in Law Enforcement. To get those jobs we will have to be smarter and better than the average cis applicant. This should be relatively easy in that the average Trans person's IQ is far above the norm. When you get there don't look for special treatment, do more than everyone else, do the difficult tasks no one else wants to do, don't complain when the going gets tough just keep going. It's not that difficult to excel.

Here's are some little tips:

If you screw up, self report. The last thing you want is someone else reporting you. This goes a long way in building your credibility.

You are going to be asked about drug use. Tell the truth.

You will be asked questions that you may feel are overly invasive; Answer them and answer truthfully.

Best of luck to all in our community who choose Law Enforcement as a career. Yes, it's dangerous; so is crossing the street.

Best Always, Love
Christine

[KimOct]

Hi Kim,                          07 January 2019

I'm from Texas and from what I have learned from my counselor and other members of our community this just isn't so.

Here's what I have been told: Fort worth has a judge that makes things difficult, If you want to move quickly, go to Austin and it can be done in hours.

I'm originally from Ohio, a good place to be from; far away from. They have a person with an agenda that runs the department that oversees birth certificates. He will not approve a gender change on a birth certificate. It'll probably take a federal lawsuit to make this agenda driven hack shift gears.

I believe there are only three states that have an issue, Ohio being one of them, every other state allows it.

My plan is to change my name and gender this month. I'll let you know how it goes.

Best Always, Love
Christine

Christine - Since you live there I will give credibility to what you said regarding Texas but I have 2 post transition friends that live there also and they are adamant that it is very difficult there to change a birth certificate.  And Greg Abbott the governor and the Lt. Governor are some of the knuckleheads supporting anti trans bathroom bills but I digress - I hope you are right and I am wrong regarding the birth certificate.  Your name is easy, the birth certificate is more difficult.

It does vary a lot from state to state.  I live in MN but my birth certificate is from IL.  The judge that changed my name offered during the proceeding to change my birth certificate too until I said it was issued from IL.  He said he would send an order for IL to change it which he did but IL would not change it until they received the notarized letter from the surgeon.

Anyway - I wish you luck and hope that it goes well for you - I hope that my friends were misguided.  I also have a friend from KY that is post GRS and they won't even change her birth certificate now - even with her new vagnioplasty.
They still refuse.  These are actual friends of mine not internet connections.

I wish this was uniform across the US it should not vary from state to state.

I would love to hear from any other post transition people that have had issues regarding changing their birth certificate - it could be helpful to hear from others that have dealt with the process.  Mine was complicated but I was able to get it done.

[Tessa James]

Abby I think your thread got hijacked a bit but back to your question.....  Yes, owning your name is a big decision and I urge you to be very comfortable with the choice you make.  Take your time please.  Have you had some experience with people calling you Abby?  How does that feel?  What does your name say about you, if anything?  When you write your chosen name how does that look and feel?  Did your parents have an alternate name for you prior to birth? 

My sister named me Tessa when I was a 3 yo and I loved reclaiming it as an adult.  I tried it on and considered alternatives for over a year as I started transition.  Some states do have an onerous process while my Oregon is a breeze.  Choose well as changing it again is twice the headache and the older you are the more places the changes must be made.

Seems like you will be one of us who transitions on the job and a public service career may also be a good place to do so with protections that unions and history offer.   What are the policies that your state and city already have?  Will you be the first out trans person there or has someone else paved the way?   You may find that municipalities and other government agencies are going to follow existing law and you may be well advised to be out about your transition, especially with your supervisors.  If you are looking at being a cop then honesty will serve you well as you take ownership of your transition and your feely chosen name.  Yes, Good luck!