Current Version
| Region | Indiana |
| Issue | Right to change legal gender |
| Status | Legal, but requires surgery |
| Start Date | Jun 30, 1993 |
| End Date | Mar 4, 2025 |
| Description | Legal gender recognition was enabled with the enactment of Indiana Code Ann. § 16-37-2-10, which officially took effect on July 1, 1993. While the statute is entirely silent on sex-reassignment surgery or gender identity, it broadly authorizes the state department of health to make additions or corrections to a birth certificate "on receipt of adequate documentary evidence." The Indiana State Department of Health and state appellate courts (as confirmed in the 2014 ruling In re Change of Birth Certificate, 22 N.E.3d 707) have interpreted this general statutory authority, combined with the inherent equity power of a court of general jurisdiction, as a sufficient legal basis to amend gender markers. Consequently, to execute this administrative change, an applicant must successfully petition a trial court and obtain a formal court order directing the Department of Health to correct the birth certificate. |
| Sources | http://transgenderlawcenter.org/archives/11272 https://www.law.georgetown.edu/poverty-journal/wp-content/uploads/sites/25/2019/12/26-3-Challenging-Inaccurate-Sex-Designations-on-Birth-Certificates-2.pdf https://repository.law.umich.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=&httpsredir=1&article=1118&context=mjgl http://www.lgbtmap.org/equality-maps/identity_document_laws https://www.in.gov/bmv/licenses-permits-ids/learners-permits-and-drivers-licenses-overview/drivers-license/amending-your-drivers-license-or-identification-card/#gender https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/idoh-halts-gender-change-requests-on-birth-records-to-comply-with-braun-executive-order http://lambdalegal.org/publication/changing-birth-certificate-sex-designations-state-by-state-guidelines/ https://www.in.gov/gov/files/EO-25-36.pdf |
Revision History (14)
| Old Value | New Value (Current) | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Legal, but requires medical diagnosis | Legal, but requires surgery |
| Start Date | 2006 | Jun 30, 1993 |
| End Date | Feb 12, 2026 | Mar 4, 2025 |
| Description | In Indiana, it is possible for trans people to change their legal gender on their drivers’ licence but they must provide a statement from a physician. Since March 2025, gender change on birth certificates is not provided. | Legal gender recognition was enabled with the enactment of Indiana Code Ann. § 16-37-2-10, which officially took effect on July 1, 1993. While the statute is entirely silent on sex-reassignment surgery or gender identity, it broadly authorizes the state department of health to make additions or corrections to a birth certificate "on receipt of adequate documentary evidence." The Indiana State Department of Health and state appellate courts (as confirmed in the 2014 ruling In re Change of Birth Certificate, 22 N.E.3d 707) have interpreted this general statutory authority, combined with the inherent equity power of a court of general jurisdiction, as a sufficient legal basis to amend gender markers. Consequently, to execute this administrative change, an applicant must successfully petition a trial court and obtain a formal court order directing the Department of Health to correct the birth certificate. |
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| Sources | http://transgenderlawcenter.org/archives/11272 http://www.lgbtmap.org/equality-maps/identity_document_laws https://www.in.gov/bmv/licenses-permits-ids/learners-permits-and-drivers-licenses-overview/drivers-license/amending-your-drivers-license-or-identification-card/#gender https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/idoh-halts-gender-change-requests-on-birth-records-to-comply-with-braun-executive-order http://lambdalegal.org/publication/changing-birth-certificate-sex-designations-state-by-state-guidelines/ | http://transgenderlawcenter.org/archives/11272 https://www.law.georgetown.edu/poverty-journal/wp-content/uploads/sites/25/2019/12/26-3-Challenging-Inaccurate-Sex-Designations-on-Birth-Certificates-2.pdf https://repository.law.umich.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=&httpsredir=1&article=1118&context=mjgl http://www.lgbtmap.org/equality-maps/identity_document_laws https://www.in.gov/bmv/licenses-permits-ids/learners-permits-and-drivers-licenses-overview/drivers-license/amending-your-drivers-license-or-identification-card/#gender https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/idoh-halts-gender-change-requests-on-birth-records-to-comply-with-braun-executive-order http://lambdalegal.org/publication/changing-birth-certificate-sex-designations-state-by-state-guidelines/ https://www.in.gov/gov/files/EO-25-36.pdf |
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edited by mineszilla. new policy makes gender status changes illegal for all Indiana residents
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| End Date | (none) | Feb 12, 2026 |
edited by DaisyGeekyTrans. Adding start year.
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Start Date | (unknown) | 2006 |
| Sources | http://transgenderlawcenter.org/archives/11272 http://www.lgbtmap.org/equality-maps/identity_document_laws https://www.in.gov/bmv/licenses-permits-ids/learners-permits-and-drivers-licenses-overview/drivers-license/amending-your-drivers-license-or-identification-card/#gender https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/idoh-halts-gender-change-requests-on-birth-records-to-comply-with-braun-executive-order | http://transgenderlawcenter.org/archives/11272 http://www.lgbtmap.org/equality-maps/identity_document_laws https://www.in.gov/bmv/licenses-permits-ids/learners-permits-and-drivers-licenses-overview/drivers-license/amending-your-drivers-license-or-identification-card/#gender https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/idoh-halts-gender-change-requests-on-birth-records-to-comply-with-braun-executive-order http://lambdalegal.org/publication/changing-birth-certificate-sex-designations-state-by-state-guidelines/ |
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edited by DaisyGeekyTrans. Adding more info.
Helpful?
0 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Legal, no restrictions | Legal, but requires medical diagnosis |
| Description | It's possible to change gender in Indiana. | In Indiana, it is possible for trans people to change their legal gender on their drivers’ licence but they must provide a statement from a physician. Since March 2025, gender change on birth certificates is not provided. |
Show Difference | ||
| Sources | http://transgenderlawcenter.org/archives/11272 http://www.lgbtmap.org/equality-maps/identity_document_laws | http://transgenderlawcenter.org/archives/11272 http://www.lgbtmap.org/equality-maps/identity_document_laws https://www.in.gov/bmv/licenses-permits-ids/learners-permits-and-drivers-licenses-overview/drivers-license/amending-your-drivers-license-or-identification-card/#gender https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/idoh-halts-gender-change-requests-on-birth-records-to-comply-with-braun-executive-order |
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edited by JordanB3047
Helpful?
1 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Description | Missing non binary options on documents. | It's possible to change gender in Indiana. |
| Sources | http://transgenderlawcenter.org/archives/11272 http://www.lgbtmap.org/equality-maps/identity_document_laws http://www.lgbtmap.org/equality-maps/identity_document_laws | http://transgenderlawcenter.org/archives/11272 http://www.lgbtmap.org/equality-maps/identity_document_laws |
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Reports (1)
- Newer law has been passed "Bruce borders introduced a bill preventing one from changing their birth certificate or permanent record. (IN HB1524)
"
| Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Description | Requires announcement of name Change. Missing non binary options on documents. | Missing non binary options on documents. |
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| Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Description | Requires announcement of name Change. Change pending. Non binary options pending. | Requires announcement of name Change. Missing non binary options on documents. |
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| Sources | http://transgenderlawcenter.org/archives/11272 http://www.lgbtmap.org/equality-maps/identity_document_laws | http://transgenderlawcenter.org/archives/11272 http://www.lgbtmap.org/equality-maps/identity_document_laws http://www.lgbtmap.org/equality-maps/identity_document_laws |
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| Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Description | Requires announcement of name Change. Change pending | Requires announcement of name Change. Change pending. Non binary options pending. |
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| Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Legal, but requires surgery | Legal, no restrictions |
| Description | Requires surgery and requires announcement of name Change. Change pending | Requires announcement of name Change. Change pending |
Show Difference | ||
| Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Description | Requires surgery and requires announcement of name Change. | Requires surgery and requires announcement of name Change. Change pending |
Show Difference | ||
| Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Description | Requires announcement of name Change. | Requires surgery and requires announcement of name Change. |
| Sources | http://transgenderlawcenter.org/archives/11272 | http://transgenderlawcenter.org/archives/11272 http://www.lgbtmap.org/equality-maps/identity_document_laws |
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| Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | Legal, no restrictions | Legal, but requires surgery |
| Old Value (Original) | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Description | No | Requires announcement of name Change. |