Human Rights Commission Meeting Date: May 9, 2019
To: Human Rights Commissioners
From: Ben Martig, City Administrator
Beth Kallestad, Program Coordinator
Title
Commissioner Comments and Reports: Valdecantos Item - Municipal Identification Ordinance Discussion of Amendment Request.
Body
Action Requested:
This is an informational item to receive input from Chair Valdecantos and interested parties only. Any further discussions on the topic would be considered for a future agenda.
Summary Report:
Chair Valdecantos requested a discussion item related to interest in pursuing amendments to the Municipal Identification Ordinance of the City. This was planned to be scheduled under "Commissioner Comments and Reports" but Chair Valdecantos requested to move this item in the agenda up as there were individuals planning to attend the meeting. We are still suggesting to have other Commissioner Comments and Reports at the meeting.
The ordinance for Municipal Identification did take into consideration the recommendations for transgender inclusion. Specifically, the card allows for the following: a) options for self-identification of gender including "x" for binary; b) added option for self-identification of "preferred name"; and a simple process for a new card and legal name if there was a name change.
One of the core components of municipal id, that is unique from private identification like colleges and universities, is proof of identity. One of the core benefits on municipal id is that the card has been vetted to be able to prove identity and residence. The ability for others to determine that the identity has been vetted and matches the legal name on the card presumably is what makes certain organizations to recognize the card for services such as banking, health care services and others. One question I am asking on the request for the change in the ordinance to allow for no legal name is "how could this change be done without minimizing the value of t...
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