Current Version
| Region | Kentucky |
| Issue | Right to change legal gender |
| Status | Ambiguous |
| Start Date | Jul 13, 1990 |
| End Date | Jun 27, 2022 |
| Description | KRS 213.121 states that an individual may have their birth certificate amended with proof from a licensed physician that their gender has been changed by a surgical procedure and court order of name change. Before June 27th, 2022; State IDs were issued by county clerks which allowed individuals in select counties to change the gender marker with a passport. |
| Sources | https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=8741 https://newsroom.ky.gov/DepartmentofTransportation/PressReleasesAttachments/Attachments/289/2022-06-10%20Final%20Counties%20DL%20Transition%20RELEASE%20FINAL.pdf |
Revision History (7)
edited by mineszilla. Was considered ambiguous at the time due to county clerks taking advantage of loopholes for IDs prior to the Real ID enforcement and transfer.
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value (Current) | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Legal, but requires surgery | (REMOVED) |
| Special Status | Legal, but requires surgery | Ambiguous |
edited by mineszilla. providing clarity on KY law
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| End Date | Nov 21, 2025 | Jun 27, 2022 |
| Description | KRS 213.121 states that an individual may have their birth certificate amended with proof from a licensed physician that their gender has been changed by a surgical procedure and court order of name change. In 2024, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet released guidance for changing gender markers on state IDs which states that you may provide proof of a gender change by providing either a court order, amended birth certificate, or a letter from a surgeon. | KRS 213.121 states that an individual may have their birth certificate amended with proof from a licensed physician that their gender has been changed by a surgical procedure and court order of name change. Before June 27th, 2022; State IDs were issued by county clerks which allowed individuals in select counties to change the gender marker with a passport. |
Show Difference | ||
| Sources | https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=8741 https://drive.ky.gov/Drivers/Documents/ValidProofDocuments.pdf | https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=8741 https://newsroom.ky.gov/DepartmentofTransportation/PressReleasesAttachments/Attachments/289/2022-06-10%20Final%20Counties%20DL%20Transition%20RELEASE%20FINAL.pdf |
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edited by mineszilla. new KYTC guidance indicates passports may be accepted as a legal gender change if used as a primary identification
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| End Date | (none) | Nov 21, 2025 |
edited by mineszilla. Providing more information on how to change legal gender in Kentucky.
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Description | Sex-reassignment surgery is required to change legal documents in Kentucky. | KRS 213.121 states that an individual may have their birth certificate amended with proof from a licensed physician that their gender has been changed by a surgical procedure and court order of name change. In 2024, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet released guidance for changing gender markers on state IDs which states that you may provide proof of a gender change by providing either a court order, amended birth certificate, or a letter from a surgeon. |
Show Difference | ||
| Sources | https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=8741 | https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=8741 https://drive.ky.gov/Drivers/Documents/ValidProofDocuments.pdf |
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edited by DaisyGeekyTrans. Removing broken sources.
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Sources | http://www.amsa.org/AMSA/Homepage/About/Committees/GenderandSexuality/StatebyStateLGBTLegislation.aspx#KY http://www.drbecky.com/birthcert.html https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=8741 | https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=8741 |
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edited by DaisyGeekyTrans. Fixing start date.
Helpful?
0 | Old Value (Original) | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Start Date | 2005 | Jul 13, 1990 |
| Sources | http://www.amsa.org/AMSA/Homepage/About/Committees/GenderandSexuality/StatebyStateLGBTLegislation.aspx#KY http://www.drbecky.com/birthcert.html | http://www.amsa.org/AMSA/Homepage/About/Committees/GenderandSexuality/StatebyStateLGBTLegislation.aspx#KY http://www.drbecky.com/birthcert.html https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=8741 |
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Reports (2)
- Sources are invalid or broken "https://www.amsa.org/AMSA/Homepage/About/Committees/GenderandSexuality/StatebyStateLGBTLegislation.aspx#KY - Leads to a 403 error.
http://www.drbecky.com/birthcert.html - Website no longer exists, domain is for sale.
Furthermore, I cannot find a proper source for it, however from my personal experience I was able to update the gender marker a little while back on my drivers license by providing my passport which had a correct gender marker. I only attempted this as I had heard firsthand from another trans woman that she did this and I explained that story to the person at the DMV who was willing to try to push it through, at the risk of me potentially getting a call back from Frankfort saying no. However, no such call occurred and I received my updated license without issue."
- Sources are invalid or broken "https://www.amsa.org/AMSA/Homepage/About/Committees/GenderandSexuality/StatebyStateLGBTLegislation.aspx#KY - Leads to a 403 error.
http://www.drbecky.com/birthcert.html - Website no longer exists, domain is for sale.
Furthermore, I cannot find a proper source for it, however from my personal experience I was able to update the gender marker a little while back on my drivers license by providing my passport which had a correct gender marker. I only attempted this as I had heard firsthand from another trans woman that she did this and I explained that story to the person at the DMV who was willing to try to push it through, at the risk of me potentially getting a call back from Frankfort saying no. However, no such call occurred and I received my updated license without issue."
created by bradcoffey106
Helpful?
0 | Original entry | |
|---|---|
| Status | Legal, but requires surgery |
| Start Date | 2005 |
| End Date | (none) |
| Description | Sex-reassignment surgery is required to change legal documents in Kentucky. |
| Sources | http://www.amsa.org/AMSA/Homepage/About/Committees/GenderandSexuality/StatebyStateLGBTLegislation.aspx#KY http://www.drbecky.com/birthcert.html |