Unfortunately, it will come as no shock to anyone that transgender people face discrimination almost every single day of their lives, regardless of age. What may be appalling for some to learn is the depth of humiliation that this group faces in each case of discrimination. Recently, there has been a case of shocking discrimination against a gender nonconformist teen.
Chase Culpepper, who recently talked to newspapers about the incident, is a 16-year-old, South Carolina teen who identifies himself as a “gender nonconformist.” This term refers to people who don’t follow the typical roles or labels of males and females that most people think of. Regardless of the sex they were born into, they dress and act according to their own beliefs and desires.
Chase Culpepper, who was born male, wears makeup on a daily basis. He also wears clothing that would be considered both female and unisex. On March 3 the young teen went to a DMV located in Anderson, South Carolina, accompanied by his mother. He had passed his driving and written exams and was going to be given his license. This is usually an epic moment in the life of most teenagers; a moment that is supposed to be filled with excitement and joy.
Unfortunately, Chase’s big moment was destroyed by a case of shocking discrimination against the gender nonconformist teen. Employees told Culpepper that he wasn’t allowed to have his photo taken for his license. The reason? Because he didn’t look how a boy is supposed to look, according to the DMV. The employees stated that he was wearing a disguise, and that he would have to remove the makeup before he was allowed to take his picture. They still stand by what they said, referring to a specific clause about disguises to back up their argument.
Chase Culpepper wasn’t wearing a disguise though. He wasn’t wearing a mask or face paint to make himself look like a clown. He didn’t have an obnoxious wig on. He was dressed how he dresses every day of his life. Luckily, Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF), a group that fights for the rights of transgender and gender nonconformist individuals, is backing the young teen, and has started a petition demanding that he be allowed to have his picture taken.
What this Department of Motor Vehicles in Anderson, South Carolina, has done is an act of shocking discrimination against the gender nonconformist teen. Chase is asking that he simply be allowed to express his belief of gender, a right inherent to all of us, and a right that the DMV unbelievably denied this young male. Credit must be given to this brave, young man who refused to alter the way he looked to please the DMV, and still fights to have his picture taken portraying the way he looks, every day of his life.
