Name Change Experience

Hi! I'm Adrian, and I wanted to share my experience getting my name and gender marker legally changed. Everything will be presented as a timeline so people also get a rough idea of how long it takes.

Disclaimer: as state above, this is my personal experience in the country and state I live in. This is not legal advice.

[04 June]

Pride! Had a blast and even found a table for a lawyer doing name changes pro bono at the end of the month! Super hyped!

[30 June]

Literally procrasinated until a few days before the day to schedule my time slot out of nerves. Turns out all I had to do that day was bring a form of identification with me, in which case I had a driver's license. It was quick and concise despite my interesting circumstances! She took a pdf copy of my license and all I had to do for next time was send a pdf of my birth certificate and proof of naturalization.. fuck. I already had a picture of my foundling certificate (for those of unknown birth origins) which was a relief but my naturalization papers (AKA a green card, permanent resident card, or an IR4 for immigrant children) were with the rest of my adoption papers at my other parent's who was a bit of a trek away. I managed to find a day to visit and convince him that I needed my green card for my "Real ID". Which is an actual thing I still need to do as my state is going to require in a few years but I still silently laugh at myself for the double entendre. Mission accomplished!

[24 August]

We had originally planned to meet at the beginning of the month but covid does in fact still exist so we met over Zoom instead. Now that we had established my existence in this state, it was time to prepare a case for court. I do want to share a hopeful experience because when I started this, I thought I would only be able to change my first and maybe my middle name. I did not realise that I had an option to also change my last name until the lawyer pointedly asked, "What do you want? Spell out who you want to be". A growing sense of lasting change surged within me - tall, looming, proud waves that whisper daunting questions in my mind. And between very bashful stuttering I spoke a clear declaration that this name that carries generations of hatred will die with me. And I spelled out who I am. Before this, I could only use a half-hearted joke about being "Adrianne from Rocky" to complete cis strangers. They mean well of course, but I can not dismiss the thorns in my heart everytime I lie about my Self. Now came a trickier part, I know why I'm trans. And, well, it's cause I'm trans. But I had to prove to the Judicial system that I need this name and gender marker change with a very dry statement that it's "to align with my gender identity" and not "I'm covering up heinous crimes such turning frogs gay" (they're already gay, dummy). And this comes in two parts: one I had to go to state barracks and get my fingerprints. Two, I had to pay $297 to get my name change published in two newspapers.  Two hundred and ninety-seven bloody USD. Go fuck yourself [state]. I asked my local trans community (yes, I am very blessed) what they've done at this step and here are two stories. One person published their's, one to the legal periodicals which is legally required and one to a queer newspaper who did it for free! So a cost would have to be paid but at least I had the massive priviledge of living in a city with a large and relatively loud queer population. Another person had their's petitioned to be omitted which is also what me and the lawyer decided to go for. It requires more time to fill out an additional form and multiple court hearings to, once again, prove I don't carry malicious intent with this name and gender marker change. This person also had their name change done pro bono through the Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund's Name Change Project. I wish you luck on your journey, dear reader.

[TBC]