Susan's Place Transgender Resources

I'm a pre-op FTM that has been on hormone treatment 6 years. I changed my name 15 years ago, but have never changed the gender. I don't know why I didn't ask my Dr for this sooner, didn't think it would be that easy. I randomly asked her last visit if I could get a letter to change my gender marker on my license, and she send it to me within 2 days.
It states "I, (dr's name and license #) am the attending physician of (my name), with whom I have a dr/patient relationship, and whom I have treated. I am a gynecologist who practices according to the World Professional Association for Transgender Health. (My name) has has appropriate, permanent clinical treatment for gender transition to the new malel gender. All legal documentation including but not limited to Passport, Driver's License, Birth Certificate and Work Identification should reflect new gender."

So, I know all states have different laws. I see for Minnesota I have to send in a "Petition for Variance" https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/dvs/forms-documents/Documents/Petition_For_Variance_Form.pdf

I'm not sure what "background documents" I'm supposed to send in, besides my license and maybe birth cert?

And then under "reason a variance should be granted", what should I write?

Also, being she listed changing my birth certificate also, could that be possible being I haven't officially had surgery yet? The couple different google searches I looked at, were either out dated, or not real specific.

Thanks!

I am in Minnesota. I did my license first then my name change, which also at the same time I wrote on the court order for the judge to sign to order for gender marker on my birth certificate to be changed, which he signed without question. I was pre-op. The drivers license variance was easy. Your letter alone should sufficient for them to approve, you don't need to send in the birth certificate only if you have had your gender marker changed. My physician wrote a very similar letter for my name change hearing. Good luck- I don't think it will be a problem at all.

cool. thanks for the feedback Megan.

Megan -

So, if my birth certificate still says Female I should send in a copy of that, to have it switched to Male?

Also, would you happen to know if it also changes my gender through social security, or is that tied in with the BC?

Thank you.

I am in MN ... I changed my gender marker only two months on T ... I got my name changed (I didn't ask for a gender marker change b/c I wasn't born in MN) ... it was very simple.. you send in your information along with the form .... I sent in my name change form (I had just gotten it changed) and a letter from my therapist stating I was living my life as a male and for my safety my gender marker needs to be changed.  They send you back an approval letter which you take to the DMV and you get a new license.  It's fairly simple.

Thanks Robert. I was just going to send it my BC with my Dr's letter. I'll go ahead and send in a copy of my name change too.

Did you also get your SS changed?  I've done a little research, and have found they usually prefer a letter from a surgeon stating you've have the appropriate surgeries. Then I also found this on the ACLU.org..
"However, a letter from a physician documenting that one has "completed all the recommended medical treatment" for "altering one's body and appearance" or "a gender transition" is frequently enough.

I'm fine with just having my DL changed for now, but would eventually want everything matching to avoid any conflict in the future.

Joey,
I am so sorry I didn't get back to you. I essentially followed the same course as Robert, except I asked the judge on the court order papers to order for my gender marker to be changed on my birth certificate. I was born in a different state, but the judge's order was accepted and my birth certificate was amended without any problem. The driver's license was pretty easy. You don't need to have your name changed first. Having a letter verifying you have made irreversible changes to your body (hrt) is really all they need and you giving a brief explanation of why you need/want the variance. It took less than a month to get my form, which you take to your local DMV, get your new picture, and your new license with the changed gender marker comes in the mail a few weeks later.
I did change my gender with social security, mainly because I work in a profession where everything with identification has to be in order. After I received my new birth certificate and drivers license in submitted a new letter from my physician again stating I had made permanent and irreversible changes to my body and submitted all the paperwork. I don't know if I am lucky, but everything went through without a problem and no other verification was needed. It was pretty clear at the time I had made irreversible changes through hrt despite not having gone through SRS at that time.

Thanks for getting back to me. The DL part sounds fairly simple. I have never had a passport, but do plan on getting one. Should I write in the space provided on my variance papers, that I would also like my passport changed?

Also, I tried googling where I would need to go to change my gender on my BC, can this also be done with this variance I'm submitting, or do I need to go through somewhere else?

Sorry for the million questions, every website I read on the topic gives me difference answers. Thanks a lot for all the help, it's greatly appreciated!

http://outfront.org/library/legal/trans (http://outfront.org/library/legal/trans)

That link will give you directions to how to change everything .... the variance for the DL is only to the state DMV... to change your birth certificate there is a different process.  Minnesota is very easy to get things change ... you should have a problem ... let me know if you do -- I am a licensed attorney in MN and be more than willing to help

Joey,
From what I know the only way the birth certificate can be changed is through a court order in Minnesota. I was born in a different state, which recognized the court order from Minnesota when I legally changed my name and had the judge indicate for my birth certificate to be amended to reflect my gender. Once I had the court order, I submitted it to the state, paid my fee, and had my new birth certificate three weeks later. I then went about changing my passport, which had gone expired and applying for a new social security card. I found it to be a relatively easy process, but it was critical to have the judge issue the order to change my birth certificate when I changed my name. Changing your gender marker on your driver's license (using the variance) does not allow for you to change anything else beyond your driver's license, everything else will require the new birth certificate, which requires the court order.
Meg

Thanks Robert and Megan, you've both been very helpful!