Justice
Why Cities Should Be at the Forefront of Transgender Rights
States are not politically nimble enough to secure identity rights for some of their most vulnerable populations. Cities can do better.
Before this month, Naz Seenauth might have faced a serious problem the next time he applied for a job. His most important official personal document says that he's the wrong person. As Reuters reported in in November, while his driver's license gets his gender right, his birth certificate says that his gender is female.
Fortunately, Seenauth had the foresight to be born in New York City. This week, the New York City Council passed a law that will enable transgender persons to correct their birth certificates without requiring that they get surgery to do so. Now, based only on the verification of his doctor, Seenauth can get his birth certificate corrected.