Washington State expedites birth certificate gender changes

The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has announced a significant reduction in the processing time for sex designation changes on birth certificates, now expedited to three business days from a previous wait of up to ten months. Governor Bob Ferguson expressed pride in this improvement, which allows Washingtonians to change their birth certificate sex designation by submitting a request form. The changes come amid a backdrop of federal policies under President Trump, which seek to limit recognition of gender identities to biological sex at birth. Critics, including members of the transgender community, argue that such federal measures could lead to discrimination, while supporters claim they aim to clarify issues related to public facilities and sports participation. In contrast, Washington's Department of Health offers options for gender designation, including 'X' for non-binary identities. The expedited process is seen as a progressive step in supporting transgender rights in the state.