Transgender teen Chase Culpepper, 17, who was born male but identifies as female, was told by DMV officials that she had to remove make-up (left) for her license photo last year (after taking off make-up right). After a legal battle, the policy has been changed and Miss Culpepper was allowed to wear makeup for her ID.Chase Culpepper, 17, who was born male but now identifies as female, regularly wears makeup and androgynous or women#39;s clothing. After passing a driving test last year, she was t
Should the teen have been forced to take off his makeup ? Transgender Teen Sues South Carolina DMV For Removing His Makeup Via Gawker reports: A South Carolina 16-year-old is suing the state Department of Motor Vehicles, claiming he was told to remove his makeup before he could have his driver’s license photo taken. Chase Culpepper wears makeup and women’s clothing nearly every day, and identifies as gender non-conforming. The teen says he was told he couldn’t get his driver’s license unless he posed for a clean-faced photo, because his makeup could be considered a “disguise.” “They said he was wearing a disguise,” said Chase’s mom, Teresa Culpepper, who filed suit on his behalf, “It was very hurtful. He was absolutely devastated. That’s who he is 24/7.” The lawsuit (PDF), which names the director of the South Carolina DMV and the manager of the Anderson, S.C., branch where Chase got his license, asks that Chase be allowed to retake his photo with the makeup on. A DMV spokesperson told WYFF that the employees followed a policy that’s been in place since 2009. It reads, “At no time will an applicant be photographed when it appears that he or she is purposely altering his or her appearance so that the photo would misrepresent his or her identity.” Chase and his mom say it’s the photo without makeup that misrepresents his identity. Their lawsuit also seeks to have that policy changed, claiming it’s unconstitutionally overboard and gives too much discretion to DMV employees. It’s 2014 and gender-nonconforming people are going to be a lot more common. These government agencies had better get used to it. Do you think the teen should of had to remove his makeup?
