A bill that will make it easier for New Mexicans to change the gender on their birth certificate now heads to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's desk for her signature.
People would no longer have to prove they had surgery as part of their gender transition. Instead of having to provide a doctor's note proving there was a physical change, the new legislation requires only a signed statement from the individual.
The bill also adds an option to identify as a gender other than male or female and new birth certificates wouldn’t be marked as amended.
“This means that someone is going to have the ability to have a piece of identification that matches who they truly are,” said Adrian Carver, executive director for Equality New Mexico.
Carver said the measure is a huge advancement for the transgender, non-binary, and intersex community in New Mexico.
According to the Human Rights Campaign 2018 State Equality Index, twelve other states already allow people to change the gender marker on their birth certificate with minimal difficulty.
