Texas Halts Gender Changes on Birth Certificates

The Texas Department of State Health Services has implemented a new policy that prohibits transgender individuals from changing their gender on birth certificates, prompting criticism from LGBTQ advocacy organizations. This change, which was made without public announcement, aligns with a similar policy shift by the Texas Department of Public Safety that stopped accepting court orders for gender marker modifications on IDs. Advocates describe this as an unexpected and untransparent attack on transgender rights, with calls for accountability against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who has opposed such changes. The policy is reportedly linked to the Attorney General's questioning of the validity of court orders regarding these modifications. Activists are actively seeking solutions to counteract this policy while highlighting the lack of legislative process behind it.