Women who had sex change sue for birth certificate

Two people who've undergone sex-change operations are suing Illinois for refusing to issue them new birth certificates.

The women say that for more than 40 years the Illinois Department of Vital Records changed birth certificates for people who've had the operation, regardless of where the surgery took place.

But they say now the agency will only change certificates if a physician licensed in the United States performed the surgery. Both women underwent their operations in Thailand.

They filed the lawsuit Tuesday in Cook County Circuit Court.

The plaintiffs are represented in part by the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois. The ACLU says a birth certificate is "fundamental" to a person's identity.

A spokeswoman for the state Department of Public Health didn't return a message left after business hours.

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Stories</h2> <ul class="links"> <li><a href="/story/?id=267372">ACLU to sue after state stops giving birth certificates to sex changers <span class="date">[01/27/09]</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>