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11/16/2009
Moniker reassignment surgery
Will I be conforming to a silly hetero paradigm? Is it more of a political statement to make the change or to not? Will I lose some of my self if I do? Is it better to hyphenate both names, or will that get too clumsy? Why does it have to be my last name when it's my first name that really eats it?
There are many questions when it comes to changing one's post-nuptial name. The New York Times looks at the reason why the matter is compounded for same-sex couples:
Couples who live in states that don’t allow or recognize same-sex marriage or its equivalents (civil unions, for instance) generally can’t just rely on a marriage certificate as proof of a name change and instead have to go through the in-court name change process. This means they will have to pay a $100 to $400 fee to file a petition at court, publish a notice in a local newspaper and get a court order officially changing their name and that they can use to change everything else (just one more area where being gay can cost you more).
Even more, couples who live in states that do allow or recognize same-sex marriage and civil unions often in practice don’t have it that much easier. While changing a name on a driver’s license can be done without a problem in such states, changing federal documentation can be trickier.
*KEEP READING: Changing Your Name After Marriage When You’re Gay [NYT]
Your thoughts
Moniker would be a good drag name!
Posted by: Dick Mills | Nov 16, 2009 1:03:14 PM
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