Arizona to Allow Amended Birth Certificates for Transgender Individuals Without Surgery
In a landmark decision, a federal judge has mandated that transgender people born in Arizona can now obtain amended birth certificates without the prerequisite of undergoing gender-affirming surgery. This ruling marks a significant shift in the state’s approach to transgender rights.
The Arizona Department of Health Services has been allotted a 120-day period to implement the changes required by the court’s decision.
Last year, Judge James Soto determined that the state’s mandate for surgery violated personal rights, highlighting the fundamental right to make autonomous medical decisions.
The case, championed by an attorney from the National Center for LGBTQ Rights, was presented on behalf of transgender minors at the U.S. District Court in Arizona.
Judge Soto emphasized that transgender individuals need updated birth certificates to proceed with their social transition without the risk of being involuntarily outed.
With this decision, a permanent injunction has been issued, though it remains uncertain whether state officials will pursue an appeal.
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