Washington State DOL Practices
Getting a New Licnese, 12/11/07
As I’ve been saying, I was planning on going to Olympia today to get a new license with an F on it. I had been getting info from:
http://www.annelawrence.com/wastateid.html
In general, there’s great info here, including the phone number of who to call, and the fact that you need an appointment. I admitted in my post “Trans Talk With Megan…” that I thought I screwed this up and was going to call and grovel. So, at 8:06 am today I did. I got in touch w/Mr. Damon Munroe (it may be Monroe – I have crappy handwriting, and I really missed it – I can’t distinguish my O from a U handwritten sometimes). Anyway, he said the info there is now out of date. [Ed - see update below - as of 12/13 it was current] Not surprising, because this has been a bit of a work in progress recently here in WA State – but hey, I love rules – just tell me, I’ll follow ‘em. No biggie.
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Update: 12/11 9:29pm
Ok, I forgot a couple of key extra things. First, call. Call in advance of when you want to fix this. Find out what they are asking for – do it. My letter may work, it may not.
Second, after some consideration, Anh and I decided two things. One – complex is bad. My letter was too complex – address, name, blah blah blah! Two – lets not make this any more stressful than we need it to be. I really want a license with my legal name. I really want a license with my new address. I really could care less about the “F”, esp in the short term. I’ve got bigger fish to fry.
So, we got new licenses today. All that now needs to get cleaned-up for me is the F/M thing, but thats one letter on one piece of plastic. Ten Days, Ten Months, Ten Years – I’m not stressed. I just didn’t need more stress.
In the end, who cares? I don’t. I’m clearly speaking for just me….. (well, and Anh).
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Update, 12/15
We got our new plastic licenses in the mail today – only three business days after getting the temporaries. No problems! I will now deal with the paperwork and update on progress.
In addition, Anne Lawrence updated her pages this week as well, to include the latest info.
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Update, 1/3/08
I sent the revised letter to the DOL today. I included copies of my new and old license (both sides), and the Dr. letters and name change order. Wait and see.
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Update, 1/18/08
No news from the DOL. If I don’t get some response in the next couple days, then I’m going to send them a registered letter asking for status. They had said 10 days… its been more. We’ll see. Patience has limits.
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Process Stuff
Here’s what you need:
1) A Letter Requesting the new “changed” F or M (my whole letter with some PII is replicated below). There’s a lot of important bits in here – if I were you, I’d just replace my details with your details, and life (I think because I do not know because this hasn’t *worked* yet) will be happy. NB, SIGN IT. NB #2, if you havent just moved, don’t stress about the proof of address thing – that’s just my situation. Unrelated.
2) A Dr. Letter from a local Dr. Saying: You have GID, they are treating you, that you should be given the new *changed* gender on your licnese, and its appropriate. Not a therapist, not a counselor, the Dr. Who Gives You Hormones n. Stuff. I’m even including my Dr. O letter because it has some of the magic phrases on it. Make sure they use your name thats on your valid license RIGHT NOW.
3) If you are simul-changing your name like I did – the order there too. I am sending a certified one, although Mr. Munroe asked for a copy.
4) A Legible, and I do mean Legible copy of BOTH SITES of your current, valid WA DL. HINT – I’ve done this before – blow it up 2x (200%). Works great, every time. He specifically mentioned that this is a hold up for other folks who send this in.
5) Take this stuff, send it in the MAIL (next day is cool). Exactly as I have it addressed. Going to Olympia expecting same-day-service – not the deal anymore. I’m totally ok w/that. Very glad I called first.
6) They get it, and about 10d later, you get a letter back saying you are F now. If you have followed the steps as I have outlined. Specifically. Really. Please. I will update if I learn more. Mr. Munroe – you are great. Thank you.
7) Take said letter to any WA State DOL Licensing Office, along with your bad self, your valid license, and $10 to pay (bring more – bring three checks, a credit card and $50 just in case. Prepared. Be it. Live it. Be happy. )
8) Smile Pretty for the Camera (or Strong and Manly)
9) Call all your friends, tell ‘em you have a new license and you are happy.
10) Send me a note saying how it went. Maybe even thanks. You’ll make my day.
Here’s my letter:
To: Washington State DOL, Driver Services
Attention: Assistant Director’s Office
POB 9020
Olympia, WA 98507-9020
Ph: 360-902-3843
From: Megan Jenna Wallent (a.k.a Michael John Wallent)
[ADDRESS DELETED]
WA State Lic #: [DELETED], DOB [DELETED]
RE: Formal Request for Address, Name and Gender Change Acknowledgement.
Please see enclosures five (5), first a letter from Dr. Linda Gromko, MD of Seattle, my personal physician who has diagnosed me with GID and has been treating me, a certified letter from Dr. Douglas K. Ousterhout, MD of San Francisco, CA, who diagnosed me as an individual with GID then who performed various procedures on me over the week of November 26, 2007, and third, a certified Legal Name Change order dated December 10, 2007 in the King County Municipal court, four, a legible copy of my current valid WA State Driver’s License, and fifth, a copy of my current tax assessment of my residence, to provide proof of residence.
I respectfully request that the DOL authorize the issuance of a new license for me that reflects my address change (from Sammamish to Seattle), my legal name change, and authorize the change of Gender on a new WA State License that reflects my new, medically diagnosed, treated, and agreed upon Female Gender.
I additionally submit that I have been living in my new appropriate Female Gender for nearly a month now, and will continue to live in this fashion for the remainder of my days.
As background, I have been a Washington State resident for more than 11 years, after moving from Ashland, MA in 1996. During that time I have been continuously employed by the Microsoft Corporation of Redmond as I am today in the position of General Manager of the Windows Manageability Infrastructure Services Group.
I appreciate your cooperation and thank you for your support in advance. Specifically, I would very much like to acknowledge the kind cooperation and clarity of Mr. Monroe (please forgive me if I have misspelled this – I could not distinguish my own handwriting) who gave me exceptionally clear guidance on your expectations.
Respectfully,
Megan Jenna Wallent
Enclosures: (5)
If you would like to read more about Transgender people and issues, here’s some links to things that I’ve found useful (or others have told me that they found useful).
CeeCee OWilliams said,
March 7, 2008 at 9:05 am
Megan,
Thank you or posting this data. I just relocated to Washington from Colorado and was confused about this process. When I got my Washington DL, the clerks didn’t seem too well informed, they just pointed me towards Olympia. Ironically, Colorado just adopted a policy for gender marker change based upon a Dr. letter and I left just in time to is that! I should be duplicating the process later this year, so this info is invaluable!!!
CeeCee
Hannah said,
August 6, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Hi there! Thank you for all the helpful information.
I am starting the process of having the gender marker changed on my DL. I have a doctor willing to write the letter (he’s not an endo but I’ve read other places a family doctor works). I called the 360-902-3843 number and left a message.
Your post ends with the 1/18/08 update. I was wondering how things had developed since then? Also, I’ve heard it’s possible to drop this information off at the office in Olympia and have it taken care of same-day (including getting a least a temporary DL with the new information!) or at least within a couple of days. Have you heard anything about that?