Mississippi Supreme Court blocks name changes for trans people under 21

https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2025/04/mississippi-supreme-court-blocks-name-changes-for-trans-people-under-21/

By Arin Waller  (23 Apr 2025)

The Mississippi Supreme Court has ruled that a teenage transgender boy cannot legally change his name to reflect his gender identity, despite support and consent from both parents, and will have to wait until he is 21 years of age, citing his "lack of maturity." Mississippi allows 15-year-olds to marry with parental consent.

The boy who goes by the initials S.M-B attempted to change his name around July 2023, when he was 16. In Mississippi, minors are legally permitted to change their name with the permission of both parents, which S.M-B had.

Despite this, the Hinds County Chancery denied his petition on the grounds that it was for his "best interest." Common case law allows for a judge to supersede parental rights if they determine that a child's well-being will be severely compromised; however, this is a highly subjective metric, and can be quite problematic when you account for transphobic bias.

The ACLU took up the case, S.M.-B. v. Mississippi State Board of Health.

"Allowing a chancellor to supersede two parents with no evidence that the name change is against the child's best interest is enormously disruptive to family integrity, indicating a judge is more qualified to decide a child's name than their parent," McKenna Raney, of the ACLU, told Advocate.

Nevertheless, the Mississippi Supreme Court voted 8-1 to uphold Hinds County Chancery Judge Tametrice Hodges' decision, while also misgendering him throughout the filing.

I do not understand the whole 21 thing in the US. In the UK the legal age to do most things is 18. I don't understand the whole "You can't drink extremely weak alcohol until you're 21" when most folks there can drive a car when they're 16. Make your mind up. Why is 21 any different? It makes literally no sense.

You can join the military at 18, and they give you a gun! But you can't have a beer. 

Quote from: Lori Dee on April 24, 2025, 09:15:46 PMYou can join the military at 18, and they give you a gun! But you can't have a beer. 

Yeah that's what freaks me out. In the UK you can join the military at 16... (or 15 if you were me and smart). And to be fair to the navy, they didn't care, they figured anyone brave enough to sign up was brave enough to have a few beers during some of the team building exercises. This whole 21 thing just makes no sense to me.

Hi Everyone

How it happened
In the United States, the 21-year-old drinking age was mainly established to reduce highway fatalities rather than due to research on brain development though that discussion became popular later.

1970s Experimentation 
After the voting age was lowered to 18 in 1971, many states decided to reduce their drinking ages to 18 or 19. This led to a surge in traffic deaths among young people, particularly on road trips where teens could legally drink in one state and then drive home.

Crash Data and Activism
Federal studies on car crashes revealed that states with higher minimum drinking ages experienced significantly fewer alcohol related deaths among individuals aged 16 to 20. Organizations like Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) utilized these statistics to push Congress for change.

National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984
Rather than outright banning drinking for those under 21, Congress opted to pressure states by saying, "Maintain the age at 21 or face a 10 percent cut in federal highway funds." To avoid losing out on money, all states complied by 1988. Following this change, the Department of Transportation noted a lasting reduction in youth traffic deaths, estimating about 1,000 to 1,200 fewer fatalities each year.

Brain Development Argument
Neuroscientists emphasize that the development of the frontal lobe continues into the early twenties and that heavy drinking during adolescence increases the risk of addiction later in life. While these insights lend support to the 21-year-old drinking limit, they were not the primary drivers behind Congress's decision in 1984; these points became part of the public health argument later on.

Why Other Age Limits Differ
Driving
States generally set the driving age at 16 or 17 to facilitate teens getting to school and jobs. Graduated licensing has since been introduced to limit night time driving and the number of passengers to help manage risks.

Firearms
Federal law permits the purchase of guns at 18, reflecting historical beliefs about militia readiness and hunting. However, some states enforce higher age limits for handguns.

Military Service
The draft age has historically been 18, with lawmakers prioritizing national defence needs and believing that training and discipline mitigate risks.

Current Status
Thus, the seemingly contradiction arises because different objectives influenced each age threshold: highway safety for alcohol, workforce accessibility for driving, and military tradition for firearms and enlistment.

Best Wishes Always
Sarah B
Global Moderator
@Lori Dee @Sephirah

There's a vey easy way to reduce drink driving fatalities in the US... make cars that can take corners, and make cities that have corners. Not 90 degree angles. You don't teach people how to drive in the US, just sayin'. Is why most people come to countries in Europe, with twisty corners, and have panic attacks.

Quote from: Sarah B on April 24, 2025, 10:12:17 PM1970s Experimentation 
After the voting age was lowered to 18 in 1971, many states decided to reduce their drinking ages to 18 or 19. This led to a surge in traffic deaths among young people, particularly on road trips where teens could legally drink in one state and then drive home.

In 1975, as a high school senior in Florida, my friends and I would drive across the border into Alabama to buy beer. Then drive back home to Florida to drink it. No drinking and driving. But still... it appears we may have been part of that experiment without knowing it.