Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Community Conversation => Transitioning => Topic started by: Amy1988 on April 09, 2016, 08:08:25 PM

Title: High school diploma and degree updated
Post by: Amy1988 on April 09, 2016, 08:08:25 PM
Well I finally got my updated high school diploma and college degree in the mail this week with my new name.  I am so relieved that I was able to get these documents changed.  Now everything matches my drivers license and SSN.  If I have to go job hunting I won't be outed as trans. 
Title: Re: High school diploma and degree updated
Post by: jossam on April 09, 2016, 08:17:39 PM
That's great to hear, Amy!

Document changes is one of the things that make me worry about transition, but nothing about it could be worse than the way I feel now that I am pre everything, so the legal stuff and all the waiting will be worth it.
It's good you got to do all the changes before looking for jobs. How did you do it?
Title: Re: High school diploma and degree updated
Post by: 2fish on April 10, 2016, 06:15:59 AM
I wasn't able to change my hs diploma.

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Title: Re: High school diploma and degree updated
Post by: Amy1988 on April 10, 2016, 09:09:56 AM
Quote from: jossam on April 09, 2016, 08:17:39 PM
That's great to hear, Amy!

Document changes is one of the things that make me worry about transition, but nothing about it could be worse than the way I feel now that I am pre everything, so the legal stuff and all the waiting will be worth it.
It's good you got to do all the changes before looking for jobs. How did you do it?

Thank you.  Getting the SSN,  diploma and degree updated was easy once I got the name change court order.  Getting the court order for the name change though was not easy because I did it myself.  It would have been much easier if I'd had an attorney. 
Title: Re: High school diploma and degree updated
Post by: Amy1988 on April 10, 2016, 09:12:43 AM
Quote from: 2fish on April 10, 2016, 06:15:59 AM
I wasn't able to change my hs diploma.

Sent from my SD4930UR using Tapatalk

Fortunately I graduated in Colorado where it's more progressive.  Had I graduated in Louisiana where I was born it probably would have been a different story.
Title: Re: High school diploma and degree updated
Post by: tgchar21 on April 10, 2016, 02:15:03 PM
Quote from: Amy1988 on April 10, 2016, 09:12:43 AM
Fortunately I graduated in Colorado where it's more progressive.  Had I graduated in Louisiana where I was born it probably would have been a different story.

Maybe not - what also matters is what the school's general policy on changing the name of a student (who no longer attends there) when it has been legally changed. If they refuse to update a record due to a gender change when they would for a name legally changed for another reason that is probably illegal.

Since some schools have a policy of the name on the student's records must match what's on the birth certificate, a strategy worth trying is to present your new/amended birth certificate (assuming you can get one) and not just the name-change papers (I once heard a non-trans-related case where a child's last name was legally changed to that of the step-father's from the biological one's, and per the school's policy the BC had to be amended before the record could be under the new last name).

Also some argue that FERPA would require a school to update your records (but I am not aware of any actual court tests on this issue).
Title: Re: High school diploma and degree updated
Post by: Amy1988 on April 10, 2016, 04:53:03 PM
Quote from: tgchar21 on April 10, 2016, 02:15:03 PM
Maybe not - what also matters is what the school's general policy on changing the name of a student (who no longer attends there) when it has been legally changed. If they refuse to update a record due to a gender change when they would for a name legally changed for another reason that is probably illegal.

Since some schools have a policy of the name on the student's records must match what's on the birth certificate, a strategy worth trying is to present your new/amended birth certificate (assuming you can get one) and not just the name-change papers (I once heard a non-trans-related case where a child's last name was legally changed to that of the step-father's from the biological one's, and per the school's policy the BC had to be amended before the record could be under the new last name).

Also some argue that FERPA would require a school to update your records (but I am not aware of any actual court tests on this issue).

But they did change my name.  That's what I posted here.
Title: Re: High school diploma and degree updated
Post by: tgchar21 on April 10, 2016, 08:32:07 PM
Quote from: Amy1988 on April 10, 2016, 04:53:03 PM
But they did change my name.  That's what I posted here.

I meant the school in the more conservative area changing (or being forced to change) a record anyway - not yours.