District Judge Bill Graves has thus far denied two transgender individuals’ requests to change their names to something denoting feminine identities, despite Graves’ colleagues regularly granting such requests, according to a recent story in The Oklahoman.
Graves’ refusal isn’t a surprise for anyone who remembers his 24 years as a state representative staunchly opposed to anything that smacked of gay rights. It’s not for nothing that his former legislative seat is now held by Sally Kern.
In Graves’ deliberations, he sought an “expert opinion” on whether a sex change would change a person’s DNA in such a manner as to determine gender, according to The Oklahoman.
Sex changes do not alter DNA, of course. And so, as the newspaper reported, Graves concluded that a name change to something more feminine would be fraudulent.
Which caught us off guard, because we at Chicken-Fried News always assumed that when a married woman takes the last name of her husband, her DNA instantly transforms to make her genetically related to her hubby’s family.
If that weren’t the case, thankfully, we’re sure Judge Graves would be the first to point out that the woman was committing fraud by feigning relations.
Anyhoo ...
That “expert” who gave Graves an “expert opinion” on the matter? That would be none other than Broken Arrow doctor and state Rep. Mike Ritze. You might remember Ritze as the guy who wanted to allow a monument — or a graven image, if you will — of the Ten Commandments on the grounds of the State Capitol.
Not solely satisfied with such “expert” advice, Graves also turned to the ultimate authority on science and ethical issues: the first book of the Bible.
In one ruling denying a transgender person a name change, according to The Oklahoman, Graves wrote, “To grant a name change in this case would be to assist that which is fraudulent. It is notable that Genesis 1:27-28 states: ‘So God created man in his own image in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth…’ The DNA code shows God meant for them to stay male and female.”
Which got us thinking: Remember when there were all those fears of religious law infiltrating Oklahoma’s court system?
Oh, wait. That was Sharia law. Totally different story.
God creates man (and woman) in his image, and yet we continually berate one another. Isn't there a chance that one day we're going to berate the actual God? Or perhaps we are all Gods, and that's the point.
So if a flat chested woman gets a juicy pair of double D's installed, and that was obviously never part of her intended DNA, does that mean this douchenosel is going to start ruling against fake titties?
And what of John Wayne? His real name was Marion! This just got real confusing. If you're intended to keep the name you're first given, then John Wayne should have been a chic.
Also, what of people born intersexed? It might be rare, but it does happen. Who is this jerk to say what gender someone can identify with, especially if their packing two different set of genitals?
If I were a transgender being denied a name change, I'd just move to closer to the nearest judge that has repeatedly demonstrated that separation of church and state is a key part of democracy. Sad that it would have to come to that, but this is Oklahoma, we can't expect no less than having our lives dictated by a book that feigns relevance with each passing decade.
And they wonder why people are pushing away from conservative churches in lieu of more progressive ones.