A 16-year-old transgender teen in Mississippi who filed a petition to change his name due to his gender transition has had his request denied by the court. The decision was made despite both parents’ consent, citing the teen’s lack of maturity as the reason.
The Mississippi Supreme Court upheld the ruling, stating that the law allows for name changes only where it is in the child’s best interest. In this case, the judge determined that allowing the teenager to change his name was not in his best interest due to a lack of maturity.
This decision is significant, as Mississippi has passed laws restricting medical treatment for transgender minors, including surgical and non-surgical procedures. The Supreme Court’s ruling aligns with these policies, emphasizing the importance of considering a child’s maturity level when making decisions about their gender identity.
The dissenting justice argued that the record in the case was insufficient to make a decision on whether the lower court’s order was correct.
Source: https://www.mississippifreepress.org/transgender-teen-cannot-change-his-name-mississippi-supreme-court-rules