South Dakota Bill Regarding Birth Certificate Information (HB 1209)

HB 1209 would require any public body of the state to accept as valid all information on a person’s birth certificate, making a person’s birth certificate the defining document for the person’s sex at all levels of state and local governments.

If passed, besides erasing the identities of transgender South Dakotans, transgender kids may be blocked from playing in sport programs and other activities in a manner that is consistent with their gender identity.

The broad language of the bill would also cause unintended consequences, such as creating legal problems for anyone who legally changes their name but does not amend their birth certificate as well.

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