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New Jersey Governor vetoes Transgender Bill for second time

Paul Thorn August 14, 2015

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has vetoed for the second time a bill which would have eased access to accurate birth records for transgender people in the State of New Jersey.

Governor Chris Christie
Governor Chris Christie

Nine States in the US, including the District of Columbia have already taken action to allow transgender people to access accurate birth certificates. Governor Christie’s second veto of the bill is despite overwhelming support in the New Jersey General Assembly for the Birth Certificate Modernisation Bill.

A spokesperson for the US National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE), said; “For the second time, Governor Chris Christie has elected to allow his state’s birth certificate laws to deteriorate despite the overwhelming majority of support from the New Jersey legislature to modernize. His veto on this bill keeps in place outdated and burdensome requirements that make it incredibly difficult for transgender people to get birth certificates that match who they are. Birth Certificates play an enormous role in transgender people’s ability to live their life as the person that they are.”

NCTE has pledged along with Garden State Equality, Gender Rights Advocacy Association, ACLU of New Jersey, and other activists to ensure the bill becomes law.

 

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