Oklahoma County District Judge Bill Graves A Bible-spouting Oklahoma judge is refusing to allow transgender people to change their names, claiming they are making changes for “fraudulent” purposes. In an order last year denying a name change, Oklahoma County District Judge Bill Graves wrote: “A so-called sex-change surgery can make one appear to be the opposite sex, but in fact they are nothing more than an imitation of the opposite sex.” He quoted a Republican lawmaker and doctor who says the person’s DNA stays the same, and “it is my opinion that a person cannot change their sex or gender through sex change surgery.” “To grant a name change in this case would be to assist that which is fraudulent,” Graves continued in his decision, in which he goes on to quote passages of Genesis. The judge’s order in that case is on appeal and the applicant has now had surgery. Graves has meanwhile also turned down a pre-op transgender woman who has told The Oklahomian she wanted to “give up and die” after the decision. “It’s so important because it’s who I am. I can’t be who I am with a male name.” The judge said he may change his mind if she gets surgery, but at a cost of US $15,000 to US$20,000 she can’t yet afford it. You can read more from The Oklahomian here .
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Monday, 17th September 2012 - 11:18am