Transgender advocates have filed a public records request for correspondence between the governor鈥檚 office and Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. They want more information about the decision on a proposed ban on gender changes .
The rule seeks to comply with a March executive order from . He to 鈥渆nforce the biological binary.鈥� Though, at the time of the order, Braun said it would have little effect.
The formalized process has been in place for about two decades, and LGBTQ+ advocates say some gender marker changes were made even before then.
Emma Vosicky, Gender Nexus executive director, said , the BMV received more than 1,600 comments and two-and-a-half hours of testimony in opposition to the rule.
鈥淎fter all of that, why is there a need for another hearing right now? What鈥檚 that about?鈥� she said. 鈥淭his isn鈥檛 legalistic about can you do it or not 鈥� this is about what鈥檚 going on that you are doing this.鈥�
Vosicky said the BMV鈥檚 own analysis confirmed the rule has 鈥渘o quantifiable benefit.鈥� But she said, there is undeniable harm if it moves forward.
鈥淭he minute that somebody sees that the marker on your driver鈥檚 license doesn鈥檛 align with you, they are much more likely to discriminate against you,鈥� she said.
Chris Paulsen is the CEO of IYG, North America鈥檚 oldest continuously operating organization for LGBTQ+ youth and young adults. She said policies like the proposed rule are 鈥渁n orchestrated effort鈥� to target transgender Hoosiers.
鈥淲hen Indiana shows us that trans and nonbinary and gender diverse people are not welcome, they leave the state,鈥� Paulsen said. 鈥淎nd we鈥檙e seeing that in a huge, huge way right now.鈥�
The BMV鈥檚 gender marker rule is just one of the changes made by the Braun administration. In March, the Indiana Department of Health issued guidance for transgender Hoosiers to update their .
The second public hearing on the rule is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 14 at 9 a.m. ET at the Indiana Government Center South.
on the rule via mail or e-mail by Nov. 14. The email address is BMVLegal@bmv.in.gov. The mailing address is:
LSA Document #25-321 Credential Documentation Requirements
Kevin Kolbus
Indiana Government Center North
100 North Senate Avenue, Room N404
Indianapolis, IN 46204
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