Transgender Inclusion

Chapter 5Questions About Legal Transition

Legal transition can be both time and resource intensive.

Many individuals underestimate the process of legal transition, thinking it is limited to the changing of a person's name and perhaps their gender marker. But there is so much more that goes into a comprehensive legal transition, and this chapter will highlight this as well as explore some of the ways in which the process is beyond reach for some. Now let's jump into the questions.

What Percentage of Transgender Individuals Transition Legally?

According to the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey, many members of the transgender community desire to change their name or gender markers on their identifying documents but are unable to do so. In fact, the survey found that only 11% of respondents had their chosen name and gender on all of their documentation, whereas 68% did not have their chosen name and gender on any of their documentation. They also found that changing your name or gender markers on your driver's license was less difficult than changing it on your birth certificate; consequently, whereas 29% of those who desired to change their gender on their driver's license or state ID were able to do so, only 9% were able to do so on their birth certificate. Why do these numbers matter? It is important to realize that if a person transitions socially or medically but does not transition legally they may find themselves in a situation where others find out that they are transgender ...