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3 transgender residents get new birth certificates

Three transgender Illinois residents will get new birth certificates with corrected genders following a judge’s order, but advocates say state law remains unclear.

Lauren Grey was among those who sued the Illinois Department of Public Health in May. She began sex reassignment treatment in 2001, but her birth certificate continues to say she’s male.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois says Grey and others were denied corrected certificates because of state policy saying only those who had undergone complete gender reassignment surgeries qualified.

A Cook County judge last week said the three could get new certificates. But there hasn’t been a change to Illinois law.

Health department spokeswoman Melaney Arnold says officials drafted new rules relaxing the types of surgeries required. State legislators will discuss the rules Aug. 16.