Areas of Work: Identity Documents
Inmigrantes Trans en Nueva York
El Cambio de Nombre para Inmigrantes en Nueva York • Cambio de Nombre al Punto de Naturalización • Cambio del género y del nombre en documentos de la inmigración • Asilo para Personas Trans • Reconocimiento de la uniónes Trans • Acta de Identificación Real Read more »
Trans Immigrants in New York In this brochure: • Name Changes for Immigrants in New York • Name and Gender Change on Immigration Documents • Trans Marriage Recognition • The Real ID Act • Asylum for Trans People
The NY State Department of Motor vehicles, which issues all New York State Driver's Licenses and Non-Driver's ID ("state ID") has a specific policy for changing gender on a a state ID card. This policy is much less burdensome and difficult than other state agencies such as HRA or the Department of Health (which issues Birth Certificates). A letter from a medical professional is required, stating that " one gender predominates over the other," but proof of surgery is NOT required.
If you go to change your gender on your state ID, bring a copy of the policy, because many locations do not know about it or have never seen it.
Th policy is available here. Read more »
Una guía para la gente Trans en la ciudad de Nueva York
Instrucciones cómo cambiar legalmente su nombre en Nueva York. Read more »
This article also discusses New York State's Appellate Division of the State Supreme Court ruling that transgender people can change their names "at will", without any medical requirements or surgery-regardless of a judge's "confusion".
Recently, SRLP joined the NY Coalition for Immigrants' Rights to Drivers' Licenses. This important coalition, consisting of dozens of New York organizations, is opposing new policies designed to suspend the licenses of immigrants in New York State. Read more »
On October 24th, 2003, SRLP received a favorable decision in Matter of Guido, a case where we were fighting for a transgender woman to be allowed to change her name
A summary of the issues discussed at the meeting with the Office of Vital Statistics in February, 2003. Read more »
What does the current policy say?
Right now, transgender people born in New York City can never get birth certificates that reflect our new gender. If we provide proof of having had vaginoplasty or phalloplasty (types of genital surgery), we can get a birth certificate that shows no gender at all.



