Judges barred from demanding doctor's notes in transgender name change cases

[Butterfly]

Judges barred from demanding doctor's notes in transgender name change cases
Guardian UK
By Daniel Nasaw
23 October 2009


http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/oct/23/transgender-lgbt-name-change-new-york


After living for more than three years as a man, the person known on his drivers license as Leah Winn-Ritzenberg decided to change his name to match his identity.

A New York court clerk asked for a doctor's note proving Winn-Ritznberg's "need" to change his birth name to Olin. Now, an appellate court has struck down the requirement, saying the state has no business asking people who change their gender to prove it to a court, in a decision transgender advocates hail as a step for equality.

[Britney_413]

Good. The government has no business asking private citizens to explain why they want to be called by the name of their choice. Last time I checked, we were supposed to have "life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness." You should be able to change your name for any reason and it shouldn't be anyone else's business. Simple as that.