Missouri Implements New Law Requiring Proof Of Sex Change Surgery Or Court Order For Gender Changes On IDs

People wave a Transgender Pride flag as they attend the 2023 LA Pride Parade on June 11, 2023 in Hollywood, California. The LA Pride Parade marks the last day of the three-day Los Angeles celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) social and self-acceptance, achievements, legal rights, and pride. (Photo by Robyn Beck / AFP) (Photo by ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)
People wave a Transgender Pride flag as they attend the 2023 LA Pride Parade on June 11, 2023 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty Images)
OAN Staff James Meyers
8:28 AM – Tuesday, August 20, 2024

Missouri residents now must provide proof of sex change surgeries or a court order to change their gender on driver’s licenses following a Revenue Department policy change.

Advertisement
This comes after Missouri previously required doctor approval, but not surgery, to change the gender listed on state-issued identification.

According to The Associated Press, Missouri’s Revenue Department didn’t provide a comment on what prompted the change but gave a statement on the new rules.

“Customers are required to provide either medical documentation that they have undergone gender reassignment surgery, or a court order declaring gender designation to obtain a driver license or nondriver ID card denoting gender other than their biological gender assigned at birth,” spokesperson Anne Marie Moy said in the statement.

Republicans called for a change to the old policy after earlier this month a transgender woman used the women’s changing rooms at a suburban St. Louis gym.

“I didn’t even know this form existed that you can (use to) change your gender, which frankly is physically impossible genetically,” Republican state Representative Justin Sparks said in a video posted on Facebook earlier this month. “I have assurances from the Department of Revenue that they are going to immediately change their policy.”

Life Time gym spokesperson Natalie Bushaw previously said the person showed staff a copy of their driver’s license, which identified them as female.

It is unclear if Missouri’s new policy would have prevented the former Life Time gym member from accessing women’s locker rooms at the fitness center.

The gym revoked the customer’s membership after protests erupted citing “publicly available statements from this former member impacting safety and security at the club.”

“This action was taken solely due to safety concerns,” spokesperson Dan DeBaun said in a statement. “Life Time will continue to operate our clubs in a safe and secure manner while also following the Missouri laws in place to protect the human rights of individuals.”

Currently, Missouri does not have laws dictating transgender people’s bathroom use. However, The Show-Me State is among over 24 states that have laws in place banning sex-change surgeries for minors.

“Missouri continues to prove it is a state committed to fostering the erasure of transgender, gender expansive, and nonbinary Missourians,” Erker-Lynch said