The following article is found in the February edition of the Buffalo Gap News (Buffalo Gap, Texas). For subscription inquiries email subscriptions@buffalogapnews.com
Gender: it’s not how you feel
I’ve read that the legislature in Texas has brought forward a bill entitled “The Texas Privacy Act.” The act would require all Texans to use the bathroom or locker room according the gender that’s on their birth certificate. Seems like a no-brainer to me.
However out here in California, which is run by lunatics, state senators from San Francisco and San Diego have announced a bill to create a new “gender marker” for people to more accurately describe what gender they feel best describes them on state-issued identification documents.
One of the bill’s sponsors, Senator Scott Wiener from San Francisco (I’m not making this up), said in a statement:
“Our trans brothers and sisters are under attack in far too many parts of this country and this world…Now, more than ever, California must lead on trans inclusion and ensure that our entire community can live with dignity and respect. This legislation is an overdue step forward.”
Once again, the Golden State decides to go where no other state has gone before. The gender marker would allow more transgender, intersex, and nonbinary residents to get state identification that reflects how they describe themselves.
By the way, people who say they are nonbinary describe themselves as neither male nor female. Intersex individuals have sex characteristics, such as genitals, that are different than typical bodily characteristics of males and females (in other words they refuse to be identified by what their body parts look like).
The bill proposes to create a nonbinary marker for birth certificates, driver’s licenses, identity cards and gender-change court orders. The bill would also make it easier for people to apply for a change to their gender on state identity documents.
Current law requires a person to get a sworn statement from a physician to certify the extent of the medical treatment done to change their gender. The new law would remove that requirement. Current law also requires a person to appear in court to change their gender even if no one objects to the person’s petition. The new law would remove that requirement as well. Finally, the new law would also create a process for youths to apply for a change to their gender identity on their birth certificates.
Because there is not enough Republican opposition in the California legislature, this bill should easily become law.
And you wonder why so many moving vans from California are stopping in Texas?
Brian Sussman hosts The Morning Show on KSFO in San Francisco, streaming live weekday mornings from5-9 Pacific at www.ksfo.com
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