Let Gender Nonconforming Teen Wear Makeup in Driver's License Photo!
- by: Chris Wolverton
- recipient: Anderson, South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles
16-year-old gender nonconforming teen Chase Culpepper reported to his local DMV for a driver's license wearing the same feminine clothes and tasteful, lightly applied makeup he wears every day. Though he identifies as male, he dresses in traditionally female clothing and styles his hair and makeup like a typical preppy teenage girl. When he went to take his license photo, DMV officials told him he wasn't allowed to wear a "disguise" and wouldn't let him be photographed until he removed his makeup. The ordeal was humiliating.
Despite the obvious discrimination, the DMV's actions were counterproductive to their mission. They could force Culpepper to remove makeup for the photo, but he will continue wearing makeup every day. The purpose of an ID is to prove the name, age and driving status of the holder, not produce someone else's idealized version of what a male should look like. The discrepancies between Culpepper's day-to-day appearance and the different appearance on the card will only confuse people who try to verify his identity, which will hold up business, lines and traffic. The DMV's actions were also sexist: they would not force a woman with a "boyish" haircut and natural face to put on makeup or a wig to appear more feminine, so why force Culpepper to alter his appearance to appear more masculine?
Please sign the petition to urge the DMV to let Culpepper and all other transgendered and gender nonconforming people to take driver's license photos that represent their day-to-day appearance.
As you know, 16-year-old gender nonconforming teen Chase Culpepper reported to your DMV office for a driver's license wearing the same feminine clothes and tasteful, lightly applied makeup he wears every day. When he went to take his license photo, we understand that DMV officials told him he wasn't allowed to wear a "disguise" and wouldn't let him be photographed until he removed his makeup. The ordeal was humiliating.
To say nothing of human rights abuses and discrimination, we believe your actions were counterproductive to your mission. The DMV can force Culpepper to remove makeup for the photo, but he will continue wearing makeup every day. The purpose of an ID is to prove the name, age and driving status of the holder, not produce someone else's idealized version of what a male should look like. The discrepancies between Culpepper's day-to-day appearance and the different appearance on the card will only confuse people who try to verify his identity, which will hold up business, lines and traffic. We believe that DMV officials' actions were also sexist: you would not force a woman with a "boyish" haircut and natural face to put on makeup or a wig to appear more feminine, so why force Culpepper to alter his appearance to appear more masculine?
We respectfully urge you to let Culpepper and all other transgendered and gender nonconforming people to take driver's license photos that represent their day-to-day appearance. Thank you for taking the time to read and consider our petition.
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