Recently, I testified before the Colorado Senate as a parent of a transgender child in support of House Bill 1265, the Birth Certificate Modernization Act. This bill would have modernized the process for transgender Coloradans who want to update the gender on their birth certificates by removing the court order and surgery that are currently required.
The proposed law would still require that a transgender person receive appropriate medical treatment and a statement from a licensed health care professional before they can update the gender on their birth certificate. It would also bring Colorado’s laws in line with current federal policy for updating gender on passports and Social Security cards.
This bill passed out of the Colorado House with bipartisan support, but was killed on a party-line vote in a state Senate committee, with Republican Sens. Ray Scott, Jerry Sonnenberg and Owen Hill voting against.
This bill is a big deal for my family. Transgender individuals often feel rejected because of the barriers and discrimination they face every day. Beginning in childhood, many transgender individuals know that the gender they were assigned at birth is not who they feel they are on the inside. But, because most people are not familiar with what it means to be transgender, it can be hard for those like my son to express who they are. Transgender people face this discrimination at school, in the workplace, in finding housing, and basically everywhere they go in their lives. And, sadly, they are often bullied and endure physical violence resulting in bodily harm or death. This has to change.
Because of this discrimination, 41 percent of transgender adults have attempted suicide, but it gets worse. If a person experiences discrimination, harassment, or bullying at work or school, it increases to as h igh as 59 percent. If they experience physical or sexual violence, it’s 60 to 78 percent, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
The reason my family and I supported the Birth Certificate Modernization Act is because we want our son to be able to pursue his dreams. Imagine graduating from college and landing your dream job. Then, imagine having someone in the HR department see a copy of your birth certificate and decide to tell your co-workers that you were born a different gender than you are now. Your colleagues start treating you differently. This happens more frequently than you would think. Now, imagine risking this every time you apply for a job because you have no way to change the gender on your birth certificate.
My son should not have to risk facing ridicule, emotional and physical abuse, or death just because of who he is. One way to prevent this from happening would have been to pass the Birth Certificate Modernization Act.
I firmly believe that GOP Sens. Scott, Sonnenberg and Hill simply need more education on what it means to be transgender and how laws like this could dramatically improve the lives of transgender Coloradans.
Transgender people are not as rare as you might believe. At my child’s school alone, there are 14 transgender students. That is only one Colorado school, and it only includes those who have been brave enough to publicly come out as transgender. All transgender people are all someone’s child, sibling, or neighbor and deserve to be treated with respect.
When my son told me he was transgender, it was a surprise. I quickly went from being uneducated and timid about transgender issues to where I am today. Now, I’m coming out like a lion to support my son and try to make a better world where he can be safe and flourish.
So, for Sens. Scott, Sonnenberg and Hill, please come out from your position of fear and misunderstanding. Please join me in getting more educated about the issues transgender people face and stand beside me to fight for a better world for transgender Coloradans. As you stated in the Senate hearing, let’s continue the dialogue. But, let’s do it now; lives are in the balance.
Steve Wagner lives in Centennial.
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