Transgender birth certificate change fails

A bill that would make it a lot easier for our transgender brothers and sisters to change their birth certificates has failed in the Colorado Republican Senate committee.

Currently in Colorado, a trans person must have gender reassignment surgery in order to change his or her birth certificate, which is also marked as “amended.” The bill pushed to change this bill, since many trans people do not want, cannot afford, or do not need surgery. It also means many transgender Coloradans will continue to face discrimination in employment, housing, or even exercising the fundamental right to vote.

House Bill 1185, the 2016 Birth Certificate Modernization Act, would have changed these regulations and updated their determination of gender identity to contemporary medical standards.

The bill passed the Democratic House but failed on party lines 3-2 in a Senate committee Monday. Republicans did not explain their votes.