Politics

District Of Columbia

DC City Council Gives Trans birth certificate bill unanimous thumbs up

WASHINGTON -- In a unanimous vote Wednesday evening, the thirteen member District Of Columbia city council approved a bill that removes unnecessary obstacles for the city's transgender residents in the process to obtain new birth certificates reflecting their change in gender identity.

Last month the Council’s Judiciary Committee voted to ease restrictions on gender identity changes, approving a proposal that would require only a certified statement from a medical doctor whereas previously, a change would have required public notification in classified newspaper adverts and surgical requirements.

A spokesperson for Council member David Catania (I-At-Large,) who sponsored the measure, told LGBTQ Nation Friday that D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray has indicated he will sign the measure as soon as he receives it sometime in the next week.

Because of the city's limited home rule charter, the bill must then go to Congress for a 30 legislative day review that a source on the Hill told LGBTQ Nation is most likely to be completed in November due to several upcoming scheduled congressional recesses.

Vincent Paolo Villano, Director of Communications for the National Center for Transgender Equality noted; “The Washington, D.C. City Council modernized the policy making it clearer and easier for transgender people to change the gender on their birth certificate."