Tuesday, June 4, 2013

ACT NOW: Support Policies on Change of Birth Certificates for Transgender Individuals


During its meeting in June, the American Medical Association House of Delegates will consider two different resolutions that the AMA “support policies that allow for a change of sex designation on birth certificates for transgender individuals based on verification” of a healthcare provider that an individual has undergone gender transition according to “applicable medical standards of care.” The vast majority of states require proof of sex reassignment surgery or sterilization for birth certificate changes, which is a significant barrier for transgender people and contrary to the World Professional Association for Transgender Health Standards of Care.

GLMA President Desi Bailey will be attending the AMA Annual Meeting and will lend GLMA’s support to these resolutions along with allies and supportive colleagues within the AMA, including the AMA’s GLBT Advisory Committee.

If you are a member of the AMA, please consider posting online testimony in support of these resolutions. Log in to the AMA website and look for "Res 004-Conforming Birth Certificate Policies to Current Medical Standards for Transgender Patients" and "Res 005-Conforming Birth Certificate Policies to Current Medical Standards for Transgender Patients," which are part of Virtual Reference Committee CCB. Be sure to include that:

  1. As an AMA and GLMA member, you support Resolutions 004 and 005;
  2. An accurate birth certificate is a matter of life and health for transgender people; and
  3. The prevailing and widely recognized Standards of Care for transgender people, published by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, recognize that sex reassignment surgery or sterilization should not be required to change a person’s sex designation on a birth certificate.

The deadline for posting testimony is June 2.

You can also show your support by liking and sharing GLMA’s post on this topic on Facebook.

Thank you for your action to support the health and well-being of the LGBT community!

PS – If you are also attending the AMA Annual Meeting or will be in Chicago on June 15, please join us for a GLMA in Chicago reception.

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