This will be very quick, but I ran across a couple of resources regarding voting rights for transgender Americans, and I wanted to share.
(If you don’t understand what transgender means, try reading
http://www.translife.net/...
Or
http://www.thecrimson.com/... )
First, the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE, a DC-based advocacy group) has put together a 4-page pamphlet (PDF) on voting issues relevant to trans people. Here’s an excerpt:
YOUR PICTURE DOESN’T MATCH
The picture (or name) displayed on your ID may no longer match your gender expression. If so, it is important for you to carry whatever identifi cation or documentation is necessary to prove that you are the person registered to vote under that name. Some possibilities might include old ID cards, any court orders or physician letters you may have.
There are other good tips as well. NCTE closes by encouraging anyone who encounters difficulties at the polls to contact 1-866-OUR-VOTE, which is the centralized voter rights hotline put together by the Election Protection Coalition.
In addition, the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund has set up another hotline specific to gender identity and expression issues, which will operate out of its NYC headquarters until 7pm tomorrow. That number is (646) 862-9396.
If you or someone you know (or someone you meet while out volunteering) encounters difficulty voting and needs help, please encourage that person to call either of the above numbers...or make the call yourself. If the issue is gender-related, some people may be more comfortable calling TLDEF’s trans-specific hotline.
I think that spreading information and building confidence in the years and months prior to an election will do a lot more to empower trans voters than band-aids distributed the night before...but I figured spreading this info could not hurt.