The Democratic governor of New Jersey has signed two bills into law that would allow the birth and death certificates of those with gender dysphoria to reflect the person’s “gender identity” instead of their birth sex. Gov. Phil Murphy signed S.B. 478 and S.B. 493 on Tuesday, calling the occasion an “important day for New Jersey as we continue to strive toward equality for all of our residents, regardless of sex or gender expression.”
“Allowing vital records to match gender identity is an important step forward that will allow transgender individuals to control the disclosure of their transgender status,” he said in a statement. S.B. 478 instructs that the “State registrar shall issue an amended certificate of birth to a person born in this State who requests an amended certificate of birth which shows the gender and, if applicable, the name of the person as it has been changed.” It eliminates the requirement to present any documentation from the person’s physician that they have undergone a surgical procedure. READ MORE
