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Legal Paperwork Updating legal documents can be a bit of a hassle, depending on where you live. Some states and countries require trans* people to jump through ridiculous hoops to update paperwork such as their name, gender, etc. Below are many different resources for you or a parent/guardian to use. Utilize .gov websites, if possible. Remember, resources and information are constantly changing! Always make sure to update relevant documents after changing your legal name/gender (i.e. social security cards, drivers license, state ID, etc.) - each state/country has their own method. Nobody at the Trans Guy Archive are lawyers or trained in law and nothing on this page should be considered legal advice. If you have legal concerns, please consult an actual lawyer licensed in your jurisdiction. The Trans Guy Archive takes no responsibility for anything that may occur as a result of using the information provided below. NOTE: this page is currently under construction! It may look a little funky if you're on a tablet/mobile! If you have legitimate resources from your state/country, please send them to us! United States of America Information copied and courtesy of the Campaign for Southern Equality. Alabama Name Change The Alabama law related to name change can be found here: Alabama Code § 26-11-3 What you’ll need: Name Change Petition (see your local clerk of probate court), Social Security Form SS-5 Total Estimated Costs: $100.00 depending on county of residence. Cash or money order is accepted in most counties. For more information about state-issued documents in Alabama, see the National Center for Transgender Equality’s ID Documents Center . Steps: Some counties may require different forms, check with the probate court in your county of residence to find the specific petition form . Fill out the petition and get the form notarized . File the notarized name change petition with probate court of the county where you live. The probate court may or may not set a hearing date . If a hearing is scheduled, the court may ask you why you want to change your name . The court will decide whether to grant the name change or not. If granted, the court will issue Decree Confirming Declaration as to Change of Name. *Additional documents may be required: Letter from a therapist noting reason for name change, driver’s license or picture ID, birth certificate or current passport, copies of current bills showing current address. Don’t Forget: Once your name change has been approved, you will need to update this with several government agencies. This includes changing your name with the Social Security Administration and the Alabama Department of Public Safety . You will need to change your name with Social Security Administration prior to changing it with the DPS. You will need to bring the copy of your name change order along with $25.00 for a corrected license. Gender/Birth Certificate Alabama will issue an “amended” birth certificate noting change of name and sex, but will not issue a new birth certificate replacing the original. The fee to prepare an amended birth certificate is $15.00 , which includes one certified copy . Additional copies of the same record ordered at the same time are $4.00 each . You will need an original or certified copy of the court order for your name change, as well as an original or certified copy of a court order indicating that your gender has been changed. The fee for the court order is a separate fee, and varies from one court to another. Because the gender change process involves more than simply filling out forms, it is recommended that you consult with a licensed attorney to help you negotiate this process. The Alabama Law relating to changing the gender on your birth certificate can be found here: § 22-9A-19(d). It states that, “Upon receipt of a certified copy of an order of a court of competent jurisdiction indicating that the sex of an individual born in this state has been changed by surgical procedure and that the name of the individual has been changed, the certificate of birth of the individual shall be amended as prescribed by rules to reflect the changes.” For more information, contact: Department of Public Health Bureau of Vital Statistics Montgomery, AL 36130 Phone: 205-261-5033 or: State Board of Health Center for Health Statistics P.O. Box 5625 Montgomery, AL 36103-5625 (334) 206-5418; (334) 206-5426 or: Ms. Dorothy S. Harshbarger State Registrar and Director dharshbarger@adph.state.al.us Alaska Information courtesy of the Alaskan Court System. You will need to fill out a Change of Name packet (adults). If the link does not work, click here. The form will have to be notarized. There is a $30 processing fee for the court system. For a certified copy of your amended birth record , there will be an additional fee of $30. Name Change (Adults) You will need to fill out a Change of Name packet (children). If the link does not work, click here. The form will have to be notarized. There is a $30 processing fee for the court system. For a certified copy of your amended birth record , there will be an additional fee of $30. Name Change (Minors) The critical legal documents you should officially change with an updated gender marker are your birth certificate and Alaska Driver’s License or ID card. Upon receipt of a court order for name change and/or a letter from a qualified provider attesting to appropriate clinical treatment for gender transition, the Alaska Department of Vital Records will issue an "amended" birth certificate with the new name and gender marker listed. They will not issue a new birth certificate replacing the original. The information that was changed will be noted on the bottom of the document. To apply for an amended birth certificate the applicant should submit: An Alaska Birth Certificate Request Form A photocopy of the ID of the registrant (or the parent or guardian requesting the change on behalf of a minor) To update the name, a certified copy of the Certificate of Name Change or other court order. To update the gender marker, a letter (such as this gender marker change template) from a physician, social worker, psychologist, professional counselor, physician assistant, or advanced nurse practitioner; OR a certified copy of a court ordered change of sex. Fee ($60 for the amendment fee and one certified copy) Submit the application to this address: Alaska Vital Records Office Attn: Corrections PO Box 110675 Juneau, AK 99811-0675 In order to update the gender on an Alaska ID, the applicant must submit a Certification for Change of Sex Designator filled out and signed by themselves and by their medical provider or other qualified professional. This must be submitted in person at a DMV location. Information copied and courtesy of the ACLU of Alaska. Gender/Birth Certificate Arizona Information copied and courtesy of Arizona Law Help. Name Change Get the name change forms. You can go online HERE or in person at a court location closest to where you live. If you don't know where your court is you can use the court locator to find your local court HERE . It is best to double check with your court’s staff if the forms are still relevant and up to date. Fill out the forms, which may ask for personal information like your contact information, birth, children, marital history, criminal history, etc. Be sure to have the form notarized! File the completed forms with your court and pay a filing fee. Inform any interested parties mentioned in the forms (i.e. another parent, etc.) Attend a hearing for the judicial officer to sign the court order with the name change and pay a fee for one or more certified copies of the order. Information copied and courtesy of Advocates for Trans Equality. Gender/Birth Certificate IMPORTANT: Arizona will amend the gender marker on a birth certificate "for a person who has undergone a sex change operation or has a chromosomal count that establishes the sex of the person as different [than on original certificate]." (Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 36-337 (A)(3) (2006)). To apply for an amended birth certificate the applicant must submit: a birth certificate request form an affidavit to correct a birth certificate a notarized letter from the physician verifying the requirements above, if requesting a gender marker change a certified copy of the court ordered name change, if requesting a name change and any applicable fees paid by money order (no personal checks) Note: Arizona recommends discussing your case directly with the Office of Vital Records before submitting documentation. Arkansas Step 1: Contact Local Court Clerk for Requirements The Petitioner should begin by identifying their local Circuit Court and contacting the Clerk's Office to ask about specific requirements for that circuit, such as requiring a Disposition Sheet or holding a formal hearing, as well as the filing fee for that Court. This map shows the jurisdiction of each Circuit Court, and the contact information for the Clerk's Office of the Courts can be found here . Step 2: Prepare Petition and Other Forms The ArTEC Name & Gender Change Guide contains step by step instructions for this process. Additional guidance is available from Arkansas Law Help . Circuit Court Cover Sheet (available here ) Petition for Change of Name (available here ) Order for Name Change (available here ) Disposition Sheet (if necessary) (available here ) In Forma Pauperis (Fee Waiver) (if necessary) (available here ) All forms must be filled out in the Petitioner's current legal name. The new name appears only on the Petition and Order. ArTEC recommends that the for requesting a name change be given simply as “common usage” or “this is my preferred name,” as stating that the Petitioner is transgender might lead to requests for additional documentation. The Petition must be notarized before being filed with the court. Notary services are typically provided by banks and government agencies, sometimes for a fee . Notaries can also be located through the Arkansas Secretary of State's database of notaries . Step 3: File Paperwork with the Court The Petitioner should submit the notarized Petition and other paperwork at the Clerk's Office of their local Circuit Court and pay the filing fee (or request a fee waiver using the In Forma Pauperis form linked in Step 2). The filing fee may vary from Court to Court, but is typically about $165.00. If the Court schedules a hearing , the clerk will provide the Petitioner with a Notice of Hearing at the time of filing. The Petitioner may be required to deliver this Notice directly to the judge assigned to their case. If no hearing is scheduled, the Petitioner should follow the instructions given by the clerk. Step 4: Attend Hearing (If Applicable) At a hearing, the judge may ask the Petitioner questions about their name change , including their reasons for changing it. If a hearing is scheduled, the Petitioner should consider consulting with an attorney or calling the Arkansas Law Help helpline (1-888-540-2941) in advance. If the Court grants the name change, the Petitioner should proceed with changing their identity documents as described. If the Court denies the name change, the Petitioner should contact an attorney or the Arkansas Law Help helpline to determine what options are available to them. Information copied and courtesy of Advocates for Trans Equality. Name Change (Adults) Information copied and courtesy of Advocates for Trans Equality. Name Change (Minors) The process for changing a minor's legal name appears to be the same as an adult, but there are TWO (2) extra documents listed. All legal name changes for minors MUST be submitted and processed by the minor's legal parent and/or guardian. The list of documents is below: Circuit Court Cover Sheet (available here ) Petition for Change of Name-Minor (available here ) Order for Name Change (available here ) Consent to Name Change (available here ) Affidavit of Proof of Service (if necessary) (available here ) Disposition Sheet (if necessary) (available here ) In Forma Pauperis (Fee Waiver) (if necessary) (available here ) Arkansas appears to have extremely strict regulations regarding the updating of a person's legal sex. According to The Official Website of the State of Arkansas , "A court order is required in order to change one’s sex and name on a birth certificate following a surgical procedure. ". You will likely require the assistance of an attorney when changing your legal sex. You or your attorney can send the documents to the Arkansas Department of Health at 4815 West Markham, Slot 44, Little Rock, AR 72205, either by mail, in person, by phone (501-682-1214), by fax (501-661-2869), or by email (adh.vitalrecords@arkansas.gov ). Gender/Birth Certificate California California allows for minors and adults to legally change their name and gender marker at the same time. To file a name change in California, you can...: Obtain a court order for name and gender change . Obtain a court order for name change only . See the court website to explore all options for changing your name, gender, or both. Where to file: At your local court . Do I need to publish my name change in a newspaper? No; if you are changing your name to conform to your gender identity, you will not have to publish anything. Cost: The filing fee for a petition for a decree of change of name or gender is $435. If you cannot afford the fee, you can ask for a fee waiver . Information courtesy and (mostly) copied from Advocates for Trans Equality. Name Change + Gender Marker Birth Certificate As of January 2018, the California Department of Public Health will issue a new birth certificate reflecting a gender of female, male, non-binary or (-) upon receipt of the appropriate documentation. No provider attestation is required. To apply for a new birth certificate, the applicant must submit the following: When Amending the Name and Gender Marker, or Gender Marker Only VS 24 Affidavit to Amend a Record You should fill out Part I and Part II of VS 24 (Items 1A – 12E) Please note that you do not need a second person’s signature on VS 24, even though the instructions say it is required. On the back of the form, check the middle fee option, “Enclosed is the fee of $23 for filing the affidavit and one certified copy of the newly amended record.” If you want additional copies of the birth certificate, also check that you are enclosing a fee of $25 for each additional copy. If updating your name, a certified copy of your legal name change order from the court. One of the following to request a change of sex: A certified copy of a court order that changes your legal sex; OR An Affidavit attesting, under penalty of perjury, that the request for a change of sex is to match the sex specified on your birth certificate to your sex identity and not for any fraudulent purpose, and if your application does not include a court order for name or gender change you must also submit a notarized Sworn Statement that you are authorized to receive a certified copy of this birth certificate A photocopy of the current birth certificate, if you have it (not required). Fee for one certified copy of the updated certificate - $23 payable to CDPH, Vital Records (this fee covers the cost of processing as well as one certified copy). Additional copies are $25 each. When Amending the Name Only VS 23 Amendment of Birth Record to Reflect Court Order Change of Name A certified copy of the court order A notarized Sworn Statement that you are authorized to receive a certified copy of this birth certificate Fee for one certified copy of the updated certificate - $23 payable to CDPH, Vital Records (this fee covers the cost of processing as well as one certified copy). Additional copies are $25 each. A photocopy of the current birth certificate, if you have it (not required). Mail application materials to: California Department of Public Health - Vital Records MS 5103 P.O. Box 997410 Sacramento, CA 95899-7410 Please note: If you receive a new birth certificate after amending your gender or your gender and your name together, the agency creates a new birth certificate and seals the old record. However, if you receive a new birth certificate after amending only your name, your previous birth certificate is not sealed. Also note that CDPH will not return your affidavits and other documents, and it is advisable to keep copies for your own records. Further instructions on the birth certificate amendment process are available from CDPH here (for updating gender) and here (after legal name change). Court Orders for Gender Change Instructions: Starting September 1, 2018, to obtain a judgment reflecting a change of gender from a California court a person may file a petition in any county seeking recognition of female, male, non-binary or (-) gender, along with an affidavit attesting to their own gender. No provider attestation is required. See SB 179 . For the current instructions on judgments for change of gender, see the gender change instructions on the California Courts website. For information on getting a fee waiver off the court filing fee, see the Court Fee Waiver instructions . Note that judgments for change of gender are not required to update a California birth certificate. Colorado You must submit criminal history checks from both the Federal Bureau (FBI) and Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) at the time the petition is filed and they must be dated within 90 days of the petition being filed. Colorado Fingerprinting is currently the only place that can administer the fingerprinting cards and submit both the FBI and CBI background check requests. Expect your FBI results within 24-72 hours (will be sent via email) and your CBI results in 2 weeks. Colorado Fingerprinting can process both FBI and CBI background checks at all of their locations. Please visit Colorado Fingerprinting or call 720.292.2722 to make an appointment. Please note that while they do have locations across the state, some may be closed due to limited operations and COVID-19 precautions. When registering for your appointment: Step 1 – Register for CBI/CABS and use the CBI unique ID 3975LNCA during the registration process. Step 2 – Go on the day of your appointment to have your fingerprints taken. Step 3 – Once your fingerprints are accepted by CBI, you will receive an email with instructions on how to order the FBI background check. The total cost is $86.50. CBI is $31.50 and FBI is $55. Packet instructions and blank forms are available in both PDF and MS Word formats on the Judicial Branch website here . You can also use our Automated Name Change Generators (using a browser other than Chrome). You may complete the forms on your computer or fill them in by hand , printing legibly in black ink. We recommend using your computer. Do not sign the Petition yet. You must sign the petition in front of the court clerk or a notary public. --- Original Petition Complete all sections on this form. You will attach the fingerprint-based FBI and CBI criminal history reports to the original petition and identify them as “Exhibit A.” Attach any other criminal disposition documentation, if required, and identify it as “Exhibit B.” Instructions for the Order for Publication for Change of Name Complete all sections of this form. This is the form that judge or magistrate would sign to order publication of your name change. Although you are exempt from publication under Jude’s Law, this form must still be submitted. Instructions for the Public Notice Complete all sections of this form. This is the form that would be given to a local newspaper to publish notice of the requested name change. Although you are exempt from publication under Jude’s Law, this form must still be submitted. Proposed Final Decree Complete the section at the top ONLY. The judge/magistrate will check the boxes and sign the order. Information copied and courtesy from Advocates for Trans Equality. Name Change (Adults) The parent(s) or guardian of the child must file a petition for name change with the district or county court in the county of the minor’s residence. The petition must include the present name, the new name desired, and the reason for the change. Colorado Revised Statutes § 13-15-101 (1)(a)(I). If the minor is over 14 years old, the petition must also include a criminal history record check from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and Federal Bureau of Investigation. Colorado Revised Statutes § 13-15-101 (1)(a)(II). This is the legal overview for changing the name of a minor. Petition for name change of a minor (document). Petition for name change of a minor (document) (Spanish). Name Change (Minors) Colorado will amend the gender marker on the birth certificate of an adult to Male, Female, Intersex, or X upon self-attestation of the individual, and will amend the birth certificate of a minor with a signature from a medical or mental health professional. See Vital Statistics Rule 5 CCR 1006-1 . To update your birth certificate submit the following documentation: A completed Birth Certificate Correction Form A copy of the requestor's identification The processing fee (~$20; $13 per copy) If changing the name, a certified copy of the court order for name change If over 18 years old , a notarized Sex Designation Form signed by you in front of a notary (you do not need to fill out the bottom section) If under 18 years old , a notarized Sex Designation Form , signed by the registrant in front of a notary and the bottom filled out and signed by a medical or mental health professional. Send the documentation to this address: Vital Records, Birth Unit 4300 Cherry Creek Drive South Denver, Colorado 80246-1530 Please note that the department will also accept a court order recognizing the registrant's gender. To get a court order for gender change in Colorado, you can use court forms JDF 76 and JDF 77 . Amending Gender Marker (Adults & Minors) Information copied and courtesy from Advocates for Trans Equality. Connecticut 1. Locate the Probate Court that covers the town you reside in by visiting ctprobate.gov . 2. From ct.probate.gov, download the two forms you’ll need: • Name change petition (PC-901 for an adult , PC-900 for a minor ) • Name change affidavit (PC-910 for an adult , PC-910A for a minor ) 3. Once complete, file your petition and affidavit along with a certified copy of your long-form birth certificate. You will also need to provide two forms of identification, one of which must include a photo. You can submit these items together online , in person , or by mail. 4. Wait for a Notice of Hearing to be mailed to you. Notice of the petition for change of name will be sent to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection to determine if the petitioner is on the Sex Offender Registry or Deadly Weapons Registry. 5. Attend your Probate Court hearing. If you didn’t already submit your two forms of identification, bring them with you. Be prepared to speak to the Judge. Before granting a name change, the Judge will need to make sure it’s not being done for any unlawful purpose, such as to avoid pending legal actions or consequences. The fee for filing the petition and affidavit is $225. If you cannot afford the fee, you can apply for a fee waiver. For a minor child 17 years old or younger, in addition to the above steps: • A parent, guardian or other adult person permitted by the Court must file the name change petition and affidavit on the minor’s behalf. • At the hearing, the Judge will want to hear why this change is in the best interest of the minor. In most circumstances, the Judge will decide the name change petition at the hearing. Information copied and courtesy from Connecticut Probate Court. Name Change (Adults & Minors) Information copied and courtesy from Connecticut Department of Public Health and GLAD Law. Amending Sex on Birth Certificate (Adults) The Connecticut General Assembly has recently amended the process for changing gender markers on birth certificates. Governor Malloy signed the bill into law on June 24, 2015 and the changes go into effect on October 1, 2015. As a result of these changes, surgery will no longer be required to amend the gender marker on your birth certificate . Gender markers can now be changed with proof from a health care provider stating that you have “undergone surgical, hormonal, or other treatment clinically appropriate for the applicant for the purpose of gender transition.” This proof can be provided by a physician, advanced practice registered nurse or psychologist. No particular procedure is required, and it is not necessary to list surgeries or medical procedures that have been undertaken. If you would like to request an amendment to the sex designation on your CT birth certificate, you MUST request a packet from the Vital Records Office with original copies on archival paper of the applicant and healthcare provider affidavits for signature. In order to request the packet you can contact department staff at 860-509-7956 or maria.d.colon@ct.gov and receive a copy by mail or in person. Once you receive the packet you will be instructed to submit the following: A notarized affidavit on archival paper completed by you requesting a replacement birth certificate with your updated gender; A notarized affidavit on archival paper completed by a licensed physician, a licensed advanced practice registered nurse, or a licensed psychologist , stating that you have undergone surgical, hormonal or other treatment clinically appropriate for the purpose of gender transition. A certified copy of a court order granting your legal name change, if you would like your amended birth certificate to reflect a new name; A photocopy of a valid, government issued photo identification (e.g., driver's license, passport); and Request a copy of a birth certificate if you would like Vital Records to provide a certified copy of your amended birth certificate. Along with the request form, you will need to send payment of $30 for the cost of the certified copy of the birth certificate. The payment must be a money order payable to “Treasurer, State of Connecticut.” Send completed application to: Vital Records Office Department of Public Health 410 Capitol Avenue Hartford, Connecticut 06106 There does not appear to be information regarding changing the birth certificate of minors. Do not assume the above information automatically applies. If you have more information, please contact us. Delaware Information copied and courtesy from Delaware Courts Website. Name Change (Adults & Minors) Where to file: Your Petition for Change of Name and supporting documents must be filed in the Court of Common Pleas in the county in which you reside. If you or your spouse is in the military or seeking higher education in Delaware, you are eligible to change your name in Delaware only if you claim Delaware as your State of residency. Filing Fee: when you file your Petition for Change of Name, you will be required to pay a fee of $85.00. You will receive the original Order signed by the Judicial Officer, plus eight certified copies of the signed Order. Additional copies may be obtained at a cost of $10.00 per copy. Required Documents: you will be required to file the below-listed documents in the Court of Common Pleas in the county in which you reside. Petitions that are incomplete in any way will not be accepted. Contact information for the Court in each county is provided below. Petition for Name Change. In filling out the Petition, make certain you outline the full name of the individual seeking to have his/her name changed, indicating full addresses, including zip codes and daytime telephone numbers. This is important because the Court Clerk may need to contact you prior to your hearing date. If you move before receiving your copy of the Order, you must notify the Clerk’s Office of your new address and telephone number. Affidavit of Petitioner. The Affidavit of Petitioner form must be notarized by a Notary Public. * To locate a Notary Public, you can refer to public libraries, postal/passport services, police stations, insurance/realtor offices, car dealerships, or local government offices. Notary Publics typically charge a small fee for notarization services. Birth Certificate. Photo ID. Documents related to any previous name change. Final order of divorce, or any other court process that has led to this name change. Hearing. Once you have filed all of the required documents with the Court, you will be assigned a hearing date. You must appear 30 minutes before your scheduled appearance to check in with the bailiff and be directed to the appropriate courtroom. Proper dress is required to enter the courtroom. The cost to file a Petition for Name Change in the state of Delaware is $85 . Copy charges (maximum per page) are $5 each. A certified copy of any document is $10 each. According to the National Center for Transgender Equality, the process for minors is similar. Check out this PDF for precise instructions. Information copied and courtesy from Delaware Courts System and Advocates for Trans Equality. Amending Sex on Birth Certificate (Adults & Minors) Delaware will amend the gender marker on an individual's birth certificate upon receipt of an affidavit from a medical or mental health professional stating that the applicant has had surgical, hormonal, psychological or other treatment appropriate for the individual for the purpose of gender transition. 16 Del. Admin. Code 4205 § 10.7. To apply for an amended birth certificate, the applicant should submit: An individual affidavit requesting a new birth certificate with an updated gender marker A provider affidavit signed by a US licensed medical or mental health professional who has treated or evaluated the applicant stating that the applicant has undergone surgical, hormonal, psychological, or other treatment appropriate for the applicant for the purpose of gender transition, based on contemporary standards (affidavit must include license number and name of issuing jurisdiction) A certified copy of the legal name change (if applicable) A certified copy of the birth certificate (the pink/blue version) or a copy of a government-issued photo ID The associated fees, made out to the Office of Vital Statistics Mail application to: Office of Vital Statistics, Jesse Cooper Building 417 Federal Street Dover, DE 19901 The website for the DE Office Vital Statistics can be found here . The process for minors appears to be the same. A legal parent and/or guardian and/or legal representative must be present at all times during the legal process. Check out this PDF for more info. Canada Europe

Lou Sullivan Author, Activist, Speaker Trans Man, Transsexual June 16th, 1951 March 2nd, 1991 Lou Graydon Sullivan was born on June 16th, 1951 in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. Beloved within his community of transsexual men, he was the first public trans man to identify as homosexual. Also, he was a prolific writer and activist, who often spoke at medical conventions regarding transsexual health, despite not being a doctor himself (Milks). Lou’s brother, Flame Sullivan, commented that “...they usually put him at the end of the conference, so he could blow everybody away… He knew what he was talking about. More than some of these doctors did.” (Milks). Among many other published works, Sullivan is most well-known for his book, Information for the Female-to-Male Crossdresser and Transsexual , which he first published in 1980, which has since been revised and updated twice. He is also known for his work We Both Laughed in Pleasure – a selection of his diary entries, published posthumously. Sullivan’s main goal was to further the understanding of transsexual men and to push for better research into FTM medical procedures. At this time, when a trans* person medically transitioned, it was thought that they did so to live as a heterosexual (Lybarger). Sullivan, being openly gay, challenged that by being in a relationship with a cisgender man for eleven years before leaving him to pursue medical transition (Milks). Sullivan expertly used his own personal testimony to convince doctors and other medical professionals that not only should he receive medical intervention by nature of being a transsexual man, but that he should regardless of whom he loves. A series of four interviews he gave with Dr. Ira Pauly are available on the Internet Archive, where Sullivan discusses the arguments he’d heard from medical professionals and other activists on his transition. The video interviews can be accessed by clicking here. Sullivan appeared to be largely successful in spreading the idea that gender and sexuality have no correlation to one another (Rawson), though there was a significant challenge from the then-present psychology community, who believed that only heterosexual trans* people could exist. Outside of the medical world, Sullivan was a prolific activist. In 1986 he began hosting quarterly F.T.M. get-togethers and wrote about the meetings in a newsletter called, very simply, FTM (Milks). Many copies of FTM are still available for free reading on the Digital Transgender Archive . The newsletter accepted all sorts of writing and media from trans men and masculine folk throughout the world. Articles ranged from poems about masculinity, rituals for gaining stronger manhood, ads for “Menace Man” t-shirts and silicone packers, to studies on medical transitioning, erotic articles and short stories, photos of surgery, and state-by-state resources for newsletter readers. In June of 1986, Sullivan underwent bottom surgery. In early 1987, he was diagnosed with AIDS (Lybarger). In the time before his death, he published his book, as well as a biography on Jack Bee Garland – someone also assigned female at birth who lived as a man and published many pieces of writing, and is assumed by contemporary standards to have been a trans man. Sullivan is known to be the first publicly recognized trans man to live – and die – from AIDS-related complications. The now famous quote from this difficult point in his life: “They told me at the gender clinic that I could not live as a gay man… but it looks like I will die as one.” (Milks) Sullivan passed away on March 2nd, 1991, in San Francisco at the age of thirty-nine. We Both Laughed in Pleasure would not be published until 2019. Sullivan has since been honored on the National LGBTQ Wall of Honor at the Stonewall National Monument in 2019 (Keehnen) and Sullivan’s work has received widespread recognition online and in in-person trans* circles. Bibliography Keehnen, Owen. “Lou Sullivan.” Edited by Carrie Maxwell. Legacy Project Chicago. Accessed May 28, 2025. https://legacyprojectchicago.org/person/lou-sullivan . Lybarger, Jeremy. “Lou Sullivan’s Diaries Are a Radical Testament to Trans Happiness.” The New Yorker, September 16, 2019. https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/lou-sullivans-diaries-are-a-radical-testament-to-trans-happiness . Milks, Megan. “Overlooked No More: Lou Sullivan, Author and Transgender Activist.” The New York Times, June 9, 2023. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/09/obituaries/lou-sullivan-overlooked.html . Rawson, K.J. “Living and Dying as a Gay Trans Man: Lou Sullivan’s Rhetorical Legacy.” Peitho: Journal of the Coalition of Feminist Scholars in the History of Rhetoric & Composition , August 15, 2020. https://wac.colostate.edu/docs/peitho/article/living-and-dying-as-a-gay-trans-man-lou-sullivans-rhetorical-legacy/ . Stryker, Susan. "The Difficult Decades." In Transgender History. Berkeley, CA: Seal Press, 2008. Last updated: May 28th, 2025 Next Previous

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About Aidrian, the historian running the TransGuyArchive. About Art by Aidrian Aidrian (he/him) is the (for now) sole admin of the transguyarchive! His mission is to make a unified space for all trans male/masculine content, both modern and historical. The site consists mostly of blog posts about historical transmasculinity, plus images and anything else Aidrian thought should be cataloged and saved. When he's not running this site, Aidrian is a graduate student in New York City pursuing a Masters Degree in History. His historical specialization concerns the European Middle Ages and general queer history. He also work part-time at the American Museum of Natural History. Believe it or not, he also has hobbies! He's currently working on two different webcomics: Instructions to Light-Keepers - When sickly Victorian author Ambrose Bloom is sent away by his wealthy parents to work at a dilapidated lighthouse, he realizes all is not what it seems when a shadowy figure begins stalking him from afar -- thrusting everything Ambrose holds dear into turmoil. Persian Knights - After a Crusader flees his King's service, he finds unlikely employment in a war-torn enemy nation, where he must protect the Prince of a nation he once fought against, leading to unexpected bonds and a quest to dethrone those whom he once served. Some of his other interests include (but aren't limited to): Star Wars, any campy 80s horror movie, Tetris, too many open-world RPGs to count, D&D (forever DM), his cat (her name is Micah), deep sea marine life, and phallic imagery. You can find him on...

Full Name 01 Job Title This is a paragraph. It is connected to a CMS collection through a dataset. Click “Edit Text” to update content in the connected CMS collection. The CMS can be used to store website content, or to collect data from site visitors when they submit a form. The CMS collection is already set up with some fields and content. To customize it with your own content, import a CSV file or simply edit this placeholder text from the collection. You can also add more fields, which you can then connect to other page elements to display content on your published site. info@mysite.com 123-456-7890 Next Previous

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Modern (20th century) The modern era saw two World Wars, unprecedented speeds toward technological improvement, and the rise of several civil rights movements. Also, art radically changed, as artists challenged the notion that art must be made realistically. Lou Sullivan March 2nd, 1991 Add paragraph text. Click “Edit Text” to update the font, size and more. To change and reuse text themes, go to Site Styles.