Updating my documents

Social Security
This was the first thing I did because there was a Social Security office near the courthouse in Boulder. I downloaded a name change form, checked the "Female" box, and brought along a copy of the name change order and a letter from my therapist.

They had no problem with the name change part, but refused to change my gender without a letter from a surgeon certifying me to be penis-free. Apparently the federal government considers what's between your legs to be the sole determination of your gender. Dumb! So it looks like that won't get corrected until I have GRS.But at least it's in my new name and gender does not appear on the card. I'm sure it does on the computer records though, which means if I apply for a new job I might get outed. Grrr.

Motor vehicle insurance
This was a fun one. I had recently transferred my insurance to a local agent and she had set up an appointment to discuss my insurance needs with me (under my old male name). So I went there in male drag, met with her, then showed her my name change order. I just said I changed my name recently and needed to update my records. Then I handed her the form with no further explanation. I was curious to see what her reaction would be...

She looked at the new name, said "oh how neat", and started asking me lots of questions about my transition process and what it had been like for me. So I answered everything the best I could and showed her some photos of me as Debby. Then she introduced me to her office staff as Debby, even though I was in full male drag! They were all really cool about it. It was a great experience. I walked out with new insurance ID cards so that was another thing to check off my list.

Motor vehicle registration
The first time I went in was in the afternoon and it was really crowded. I didn't feel like waiting in line so I came back at 8:30 in the morning (they open at 8:00). There was no line at all and I walked right up. I just told the lady I had a name change and handed her my registrations (one car, one motorcycle), titles, and the name change order. It would have been better to update my license first because she said I could have gotten my new titles on the spot. Instead they'll get mailed to me. Oh well. It only took about ten minutes and I walked out with new registrations in my new name. Total cost was $13 for both vehicles. No problems at all other than the title delay, which they said would be six to eight weeks.

Eight weeks later, still no titles. So I called to see what happened. It turned out the U.S. Postal Service sent my titles to the wrong address! The person who got them sent them back to the DMV, who simply shredded them and never told me. Unbelievable! I had to go back to the DMV and purchase duplicate copies for another $15. I should bill the Postal Service. Anyway, this time I had my updated driver's license with me so they printed the titles on the spot and I walked out with them. Done at last! I went early in the morning when it wasn't crowded so I was all done in ten minutes.

Driver's license
After the social security hassle I was ready for battle and determined to get the "F" on my license. So I gathered up everything I had, including my old social security card, birth certificate, passport, a certified copy of my name change order, and the original copy of my therapist's letter. I went to a driver license office in downtown Denver because I've heard numerous reports of people being hassled about the gender change at the Boulder office. Ironic considering how friendly most people in Boulder are towards diversity.

This time it went smoothly. They insisted on seeing my social security card (good thing I brought it!) but after that everything sailed right through. The letter basically said I was being "professionally treated for gender reassignment" and that I was going to be living full time as a woman. That satisfied them. I got a new license on the spot with my new photo and name. And the "F" under Sex! I felt like I'd won a major battle. The cost was $5, their fee for a duplicate license.

Checking account
My checking account is with US Bank (a local banking company in the Denver area). They had an office right across the street from the driver license place. No hassles getting the change made; my driver's license plus a photocopy of my name change order satisfied them. But they haven't quite caught on to the computer age - instead of simply updating my account online they filled out some paper forms and said it would take 7 to 10 days for the name change to take effect! And I can't order new checks and debit card until then. Dumb.

Other stuff
Everything else I'm basically handling by mailing a letter with a copy of my name change order. I wrote a generic letter that I just make changes to for each firm. Hopefully those won't drag out too long...

Epilogue
As I write this, July 26 2001, things are pretty much wrapped up. There were a few quirks that had to get straightened out, as I expected. My credit union changed my name right away but didn't get the new checks ordered as they said they would. So I had to call back about that when the checks failed to arrive. Verizon misspelled my new last name. There were a few other things like that but overall it went relatively smoothly. The Social Security office and the Driver's License office were the only places that insisted on seeing a certified copy of the court order. Everyone else was happy with a photocopy. But doing this without a court order would have really hard. Almost everyone wanted to see it.

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