My thoughts this morning as my brain is still absorbing caffeine and trying to wake up.
In the news lately, are various policies and regulations by government agencies, school districts, and even churches that continue to address things they know nothing about.
The State of Missouri has changed its policy to change the gender marker on driver's licenses and state IDs.
"Customers are required to provide either medical documentation that they have undergone gender reassignment surgery... "Gender cannot be "reassigned", by surgery or any other means. The surgery is
A treatment for Gender Dysphoria, but not the only treatment. Many people can live their lives without surgery, and may not want, or be able to have surgery for medical/financial reasons. Their gender remains the same with or without surgery.
Many of the new anti-LGBTQ laws being proposed and passed refer to "gender assigned at birth". Gender is not assigned at birth. Gender is not assigned, it is an inherent part of our personality. Some use the phrase "sex assigned at birth". If you are not required to present a birth certificate, how can they possibly know?
Usually, the purpose of the birth certificate is to establish citizenship, not gender or sex. Children may need it to enroll in school, adults may need it for things like passports and driver's licenses. Very often, they are used to prove identity. The problem is that birth certificates are not photo IDs, so anyone can request a copy and claim it is theirs. That is how identity theft happens.
To help combat this problem, The U.S. Government (Homeland Security) came up with the REAL-ID program. Driver's licenses and state IDs that have a gold star on the front are REAL-ID compliant. What does this mean? It means that sufficient documentation has been presented (birth certificate, social security number, etc.) to positively identify who you are.
On May 7, 2025, U.S. travelers must be REAL ID compliant to board domestic flights and access certain federal facilities. Homeland Security - REAL IDIn 2022, I received a letter from my Endocrinologist stating that I had "appropriate clinical treatment for transition to the gender of female". I used that document as "evidence" submitted to the Circuit Court for a Legal Name Change. With the letter and the court order, I was able to change my name and gender on my driver's license (which has the REAL-ID gold star).
As this is now a federally accepted PHOTO ID, I use that (with my legal documents) to change things like my Social Security card, VA Disabled Veterans PHOTO ID, etc.
My point is that, two years later, my birth certificate is irrelevant. My State driver's license is a photo ID that is REAL-ID compliant, and my VA photo ID is issued by a federal agency. There is no longer any reason to have a copy of my birth certificate.
Interrogator: "What sex were you assigned at birth?"
Me: "I don't know. It was so long ago, and I was very young back then."
Interrogator: "What does it say on your birth certificate?"
Me: "I don't have a copy of my birth certificate, do you?"
Interrogator: "We need to verify that you are who you say you are."
Me: < presents two federally recognized photo IDs >
You are not required to reveal ANY part of your medical history to anyone. Law enforcement agencies can gain access to your records through a subpoena or court order, but YOU are not required to reveal anything. Since my letter of gender change came from my endocrinologist, that is part of my medical history and is protected under HIPAA.
The Privacy Rule protects all "individually identifiable health information" held or transmitted by a covered entity or its business associate, in any form or media, whether electronic, paper, or oral. HIPAA Privacy RuleYou are not required to reveal that you changed your name. If someone feels they need to know, they can go through the court records to find out. You are not required to reveal it.
So getting back to these discriminatory laws, they can affect children who do not have court orders, name changes, or driver's licenses. But it is different for adults.
If you live in Missouri or belong to a church that will not allow you to preach The Word because you wear a dress, come to South Dakota and get a driver's license with a REAL-ID gold star on it. South Dakota recognizes nomads and full-time travelers, who may live in an RV/camper or maybe a truck driver.
South Dakota Full Time TravelersThere are always ways to fight back against an overbearing government. Many methods are even non-violent.
I need more coffee.
