As the times change, so does the need to assess our antiquated practices and procedures.  Precedent already exists for amending what is required on birth certificate documents. For example, birth certificates used to include the race of an individual’s parents, which had historically been used as a part of systemic discrimination. As we have seen, removing race from birth certificate applications has had no impact on the document’s original intention, which is to prove the birth itself and the place in which the child was born. By removing sex from birth certificates, we eliminate yet another form of discrimination people endure when there is an error in that category.
 
Bureaucratic roadblocks make the process of amending government documents complicated as people face discrimination and multiple barriers when changing categories like their sex. Our legislation would fix this issue by removing that bureaucratic roadblock. As recommended by the American Medical Association (AMA), removing sex designations on birth certificates will prevent many problems individuals face by having a different gender identity on this foundational document. Sex will still be reported on the U.S. Standard Certificate of Live Birth system, which is used for medical and statistical data collection, therefore its place on a birth certificate is redundant and unnecessary.
 
We urge you to join us in co-sponsoring this bill to take a simple step to ensure Pennsylvania bureaucracy is not a barrier to any Pennsylvanians living their lives authentically.

Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 1506 (Apr 28, 2025): P.L.304, No.66