Indiana AG Rokita Intervenes in Gender Marker Birth Certificate Cases

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita has filed motions to intervene in court cases where trial courts ordered the Indiana Department of Health to change the sex designation on birth certificates to reflect individuals' preferred gender identities. Rokita argues that such changes constitute "falsifying records" and emphasizes that birth certificates should reflect the "historical, immutable fact" of a person's sex at birth, comparing gender changes to altering newborns' length or weight. This intervention follows an executive order from Governor Mike Braun that ended the state's process for updating gender markers, requiring state agencies to define sex based on biological classification at conception, without recognizing intersex individuals. The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana has challenged Braun's order through a class-action lawsuit. Rokita stresses the state's interest in preserving the integrity of its birth certificate issuance process and notes that the state was not previously a party in these cases. These developments highlight ongoing legal battles over gender identity recognition and official documentation in Indiana.