[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/utah-supreme-court-rules-trans-people-can-change-name-gender-on-birth-certificates\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/utah-supreme-court-rules-trans-people-can-change-name-gender-on-birth-certificates\/","headline":"Utah Supreme Court rules trans people can change name, gender on birth certificates","name":"Utah Supreme Court rules trans people can change name, gender on birth certificates","description":"\u201cWhile the decision was a long time coming, there is nothing radical about the outcome\u2014the right to be treated equally regardless of which county or judicial district you are in.\u201d","datePublished":"2021-05-07","dateModified":"2021-05-07","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/author\/molly\/#Person","name":"Molly Sprayregen","url":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/author\/molly\/","identifier":10507,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/a4b52e7bcebea6609440323eb32980a14e8a6ccf671ae2146179b833cd80eed4?s=96&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/a4b52e7bcebea6609440323eb32980a14e8a6ccf671ae2146179b833cd80eed4?s=96&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Equally Wed","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"http:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/equally-wed-lgbtq-weddings-logo.jpg","url":"http:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/equally-wed-lgbtq-weddings-logo.jpg","width":218,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/trans-flag.png","url":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/trans-flag.png","height":768,"width":1280},"url":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/utah-supreme-court-rules-trans-people-can-change-name-gender-on-birth-certificates\/","about":["News"],"wordCount":580,"keywords":["angie rice","anti-trans bills","anti-trans discrimination","birth certificate","Chris Wharton","gender marker","Sean Childers-gray","transgender equality","transgender rights","utah supreme court"],"articleBody":"In what Equality Utah has called a landmark ruling for the transgender community, the Utah Supreme Court announced on Thursday its 4-1 decision that Utahns have the right to change the name and gender on their birth certificates.It took over three years for the decision to be made in the case of re Gray and Rice, which was filed after a Utah judge denied the name change petitions of Sean Childers-Gray and Angie Rice.This denial occurred despite the fact that both plaintiffs met the state\u2019s legal requirements to make the change.In the decision, Justice Himonas disparaged the judge who had refused.“As for the district court\u2018s declaration that ‘some biological facts are not subject to voluntary modification,’ the reader must be clinically aware by now that the sex change we are discussing has less to do with biology than with identity,” he wrote.In a statement, Chris Wharton, attorney for Childers-Gray and Rice, emphasized that \u201cWhile the decision was a long time coming, there is nothing radical about the outcome\u2014the right to be treated equally regardless of which county or judicial district you are in.\u201dChilders-Gray told Fox 13 \u00a0that the decision will have a massive impact on transgender people in Utah.“You aren\u2019t just talking about a birth certificate. You aren\u2019t talking about just a driver\u2019s license or a passport. You\u2019re talking about someone\u2019s soul.\u201dIn another statement, Candice Metzler of Transgender Education of Advocates of Utah celebrated the decision.“Today, the State of Utah has taken a step closer to that ideal of ‘becoming a more perfect Union,\u201d\u2019 Metzler said.\u201cWe have chosen to create a system that actually serves all who use it. We have chosen the health of our community by sending a clear message that transgender, intersex, and gender-diverse people have a place in our communities and state. This decision will go a long way in helping such people know they belong.”This win comes at a time when the transgender community continues to face vicious attacks from Republican-controlled state legislatures around the country.Over 100 anti-trans bills have been introduced in over thirty states, many of them targeting healthcare and athletic participation for transgender youth.Though many have passed or are likely to do so soon, the tireless work of activists, organizers and advocates have led to the failure of some of these bills.Across the country, activists and organizers rejoiced over the Utah win.\ud83d\udce2BREAKING!Today, the Utah Supreme Court ruled that #trans Utahns are able to change their name & gender marker on their birth certificates! This ruling was 3.5 years in waiting. Congrats to @EqualityUtah + all of the activists & advocates in Utah that enabled this victory! pic.twitter.com\/7On249fn8G— NCLR \u2013 National Center for Lesbian Rights (@NCLRights) May 6, 2021https:\/\/twitter.com\/brockbooneLAW\/status\/1390464187743281156Again, I'm so proud of Utah. This year our Legislature rejected 2 bills to restrict the liberty of transgender youth. Today, the Utah Supreme Court ruled that trans Utahns can affirm their authentic lives. This is what 'equality under the law' looks like. https:\/\/t.co\/KmzBHLgwla— Troy Williams (@TroyWilliamsUT) May 6, 2021A Landmark Victory for Transgender Utahns!The Utah Supreme Court affirms the right of trans Utahns to change their birth certificates. Congratulations to the legal team led by @chriswhartonslc. And so much love to plaintiffs @15to1montgomery & Angie Rice for your courage. pic.twitter.com\/vjGzg1JEUg— Equality Utah (@EqualityUtah) May 6, 2021 "},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Utah Supreme Court rules trans people can change name, gender on birth certificates","item":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/utah-supreme-court-rules-trans-people-can-change-name-gender-on-birth-certificates\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]