New Illinois Law Makes It Easier To Change Sex On Birth Certificate

The LGTBQ+ community is celebrating a recent change to Illinois' Vital Records Act which simplifies the process of changing the gender on birth certificates.

The move proves the state acknowledges the importance of self-identification and creates a more inclusive environment for all its residents.

Removing Previous Barriers

Before this new law, transgender and intersex individuals in Illinois had to provide certification from a healthcare professional proving they had undergone gender reassignment surgery or other clinical treatments to change the gender on their birth certificates.

This requirement often posed challenges for many individuals, as not everyone chooses or can afford the procedures required.

The recent change acknowledges the distinction between biological sex and gender, recognizing that gender identity is a deeply personal aspect of one's identity.

The update to the state's Vital Records Act, effective July 1, allows individuals to affirm their gender identity or intersex condition through a simple statement, eliminating the previous requirement for medical certification.

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Governor JB Pritzker is happy about the amendment and said it makes it easier for Illinoisans to change the gender listed on their birth certificates.

By eliminating "bureaucratic hurdles", the state's goal is to ensure that transgender, nonbinary, gender non-conforming and intersex individuals can have documentation that affirms their true identity.

Making the Process Accessible

Anyone who wants to change the gender listed on a birth certificate has to submit a signed and notarized affidavit of correction, along with a copy of their current identification and a $15 fee for processing.

The documents have to be sent via snail mail to the Illinois Department of Public Health Division of Vital Records.

The IDPH Birth Records website has all the information needed for making changes to birth certificates, including corrections, gender changes, and gender changes in conjunction with a name change.