Florida bill would change birth certificate language
A bill filed by Florida Representative David Richardson would change the way the state recognizes gender identity in statutes.
House bill 1151, filed by Richardson, a Miami Beach Democrat, seeks to update Florida laws to reflect the realities of everyday life in a post marriage equality nation.
“There is still more work that needs to be done to achieve full equality in the state and this bill moves us one step closer to achieving that end,” Richardson said.
Richardson described the bill as a housekeeping effort to update language that is inclusive of all families by striking words that are gender-specific. Senator Darren Soto (D-Orlando) is offering to file the bill, reviewed by the National Center for Lesbian Rights, in the Senate.
“In the wake of the 2015 U.S. Supreme Court decision ratifying marriage equality, there is still much to be done to foster equality for all Floridians,” Soto said in a news release. “This legislation will greatly assist same-sex parents in the birth certificate process to help foster loving families across our state.”
First elected in 2012, Richardson is the lone openly gay Florida legislator. He is the Democrats’ ranking member on the Rules, Calendar and Ethics Committee and was instrumental last session in removing a 38-year ban on same-sex adoptions from Florida statues.