NEWARK -- On Jan. 13, Gov. Chris Christie vetoed a bill that would have revised procedures for amending the gender marker on birth certificates.
The following is a statement from Deputy Legal Director Jeanne LoCicero:
Governor Christie’s callous veto today keeps transgender New Jerseyans at risk of discrimination. This bill would have provided a simple procedure for birth certificate amendments and would have aligned New Jersey policy with contemporary medical standards. Having access to basic identification documents that match one’s gender identity is a civil right. This is a clear example where the state should not be substituting its judgment over that of licensed healthcare professionals. The ACLU-NJ was proud to testify in support of this bill and will continue to work with allies and legislators to ensure basic fairness for members of the transgender community.
