For not listing her prior name as a recent name change. She can use the name she wants.
It’s also a law that’s been on the books years, and last modified in 1995. It’s a common sense law. Candidates should not be able to hide past indiscretions with a name change. It has nothing to do with trans issues or dead names.
You don’t get to change your first name my marriage, and generally, records are not sealed so people can find out their maiden name. Changing your name via court order can be sealed and often involves changing both first and last names.
Candidates should be able to hide past indiscretions with a name change.
unfortunate typo
“Recent” being within 5 years seems understandable in a general political context, however is a little cruel to trans people who usually don’t want their deadnames out in the public. Would this ruling be applied the same way to married people who changed their name?
or, hear me out. if you’re running for political office, you deal with such things like an adult. deadname or not, this person would face MUCH more harsh situations in office than having to put a name you don’t go by anymore.
I’m afraid that’s a pretty poor argument. It’s not inherently more mature to subject yourself things that harm you because there exist things that can harm you out in the world.
Please try listening to trans people about their experiences. Deadnaming isn’t just using a old name. For a lot of people, it’s kind of like being called the worst nickname your high school bully had for you, except that everyone in your life, your parents, your friends, everyone, has only called you that for years and years. Some people have a better or at least neutral relationship to their deadname, but it’s still considered incredibly impolite to reference generally speaking.
In regards to this rule, I don’t see a legitimate argument for excluding name changes from marriage and not similarly applying this exception for name changes for trans people (ie associated with a gender marker change, if we want similar criteria to differentiate from other name changes). Both are life events that should be considered normal and regular and not associated with potential fraud. Either this rule applies equally to everyone, or it shouldn’t be applied at all (like it hasn’t been applied in decades to the extent that it isn’t even on the official form).
Would this ruling be applied the same way to married people who changed their name?
You would know if you would read the article.
Good clarification. The title is still correct though. They still want her to use her prior name, just not exclusively so.
Disclose, not use. She can use her name as her real name and political persona
