Three trans women, who filed a lawsuit against Alabama’s current policy that trans people must undergo full gender-reassignment surgery to be granted a driving licence that aligns with their gender identity, won the case after the state’s regulations were ruled ‘unconstitutional’.
Darcy Jeda Corbitt, Destiny Clark, and a third anonymous plaintiff, sued four state public safety and DMV officials in 2018, saying they were “responsible for the establishment and enforcement of a policy that prevents transgender people in Alabama from obtaining a driver licence that reflects their gender, unless they undergo surgical procedures and disclose information about those procedures to the government”.
According to ABC News, U.S. district judge, Myron Thompson, granted the women new licences this week, and said: “The alternative to surgery is to bear a driver licence with a sex designation that does not match the plaintiffs’ identity or appearance. That too comes with pain and risk.”
They continued: “Alabama therefore may no longer make people’s genitalia determine the contents of their driver licences.” Following the ruling, Darcy Corbitt said: “I know who I am, and finally the state of Alabama will be required to respect me and provide an accurate driver’s licence.” The women hope their story will encourage authorities to “consider the needs of transgender citizens, [rather] than try to force them into archaic understanding of what gender should be.”
