Seattle Times: Washington State changes policy on transgender driver's licenses

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Seattle Times: State changes policy on transgender driver's licenses
The Seattle Times has this story Monday about the state Department of Licensing reversing course on a policy that made it tougher to change the gender marker on a driver's license.

The state adopted a more restrictive policy in January to prevent identity theft and guard against terrorism. But the state changed directions after hearing from representatives of the transgender community, who pointed out problems caused by the rule change, according to The Times.

Since 1999, 790 people have changed the gender classification on their license, according to data from the Licensing Department.

Here are the numbers by year:

1999: 55

2000: 98

2001: 59

2002: 82

2003: 71

2004: 73

2005: 70

2006: 46

2007: 110

2008: 83

2009: 43

See the above at this web address: http://blog.seattlepi.com/transportation/archives/175923.asp...

Richard

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The Actual Story

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The actual story of what happened, and why, can be found here: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009630857_t...

The lede:


In January — after three years of discussion — the Department of Licensing made it tougher to change gender information on driver's licenses, citing goals of fighting terrorism and reducing identity theft.

Last week it abruptly changed course, not just reverting to the original policy — but even making it easier than before.

"It just didn't seem to make sense," explained Doron Maniece, acting assistant director at the department.

(The link was in the link to the story above, but I thought it would be easier to post it directly.)

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