Boston to no longer require registering sex or gender identity to marry
Couples getting married in Boston will no longer have to state their sex or gender identity when filling out paperwork. The change is intended as a nod to residents whose gender and sexual identities have historically gone unrecognized or unsupported by government agencies, the AP reports.
Boston city authorities have announced new rules for filling out documents during weddings. From now on, couples wishing to marry will not have to specify their sex or gender identity. This applies to both the applicant and their partner.
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A nod to people previously overlooked
"Our fundamental charge in public service is ensuring that our services and opportunities reach everyone, and that starts with affirming and supporting constituents of all identities," Mayor Michelle Wu told the reporters present at the conference.
"Boston must continue to work to dismantle the historic inequities and injustices that persist. This update to Boston marriage licenses is a huge step in building a City that is truly inclusive, and I'm excited to see how these critical changes for accessibility at City Hall serve Bostonians."
Kimberly Rhoten, Boston's director of policy and strategic initiatives, received the new marriage certificate at a press conference. Rhoten told the press: "Unfortunately for people like me, the certificates’ outdated and narrow gender markers were a glaring reminder that our city still had a long way to go to acknowledging our existence."
Rhoten explained that this simple change would help alleviate gender dysphoria for them and other members of the LGBTQ+ community by keeping them from "picking their identity from a list of limited, narrow, and delineated options."
"And for those of us who change and grow, later identifying with a different gender than when we first got married, our marriage certificates no longer constrain us and can now reflect the love we hold without disrespecting who we’ve grown into and our new pronouns," she added, highlighting the essence of the changes being made.
"This is not just a win for the queer community — it’s a win for everyone who believes in the principles of fairness, equality, and equal access to our city’s services. It’s a win for Boston," Rhoten stated accepting her new marriage certificate.
Source: Associated Press, Boston.com
