Off the News: Birth certificates; Board elections

Transgender people need accurate documents

Transgender people need identifying documents such as birth certificates, driver’s licenses and passports that reflect how they present themselves to the world. Absent consistent IDs, it’s difficult to open a bank account, obtain a mortgage, start a new job or complete any number of important tasks that most people take for granted.

The National Center for Transgender Equality has made it a priority to overturn intrusive state or federal regulations — such as proof of gender-reassignment surgery — to ensure that transgender people can obtain accurate documents. Add Hawaii to the growing list of states that have recognized the problem and are responding accordingly.

The state Legislature passed a bill making it easier for transgender people to correct their birth certificates, by removing the proof-of-surgery requirement. Instead, a note from a physician validating the identity change would suffice. Gov. David Ige should sign this bill into law. Sex and gender are complex issues that require this nuanced approach.

Vote for your Neighborhood Board members

Oahu voters have until May 15 to cast digital ballots in Neighborhood Board elections, choosing the engaged citizens who will represent them at the grass roots of city government. As of May 5, 14,030 digital ballots had been cast, according to the city. Let’s hope that a wave of late deciders will push turnout above the 15,318 ballots submitted in 2013. For more information, including about the candidates, check honolulu.gov/nco.