June 29, 2015 1:23 PM

Rep. Anchia renews push for gender neutral birth certificates in adoptions

Legislation on this failed in the session, but gay marriage ruling provides a new context

Citing the fact that the State Registrar of Vital Statistics moved without hesitation last week to make applications for marriage licenses in Texas gender neutral, Rep. Rafael Anchia, D-Dallas, on Monday asked that office to similarly change the supplemental birth certificates for children adopted by same-gender parents.

It’s been a long-running cause for Anchia, who has filed legislation to change those supplemental birth certificates for the past four sessions. His arguments have mainly fallen on deaf ears in the Texas House.

“It is important to these children, as well as their parents, that their birth certificates accurately reflect their families,” Anchia said. “This change is both pro-adoption and pro-family."

By Scott Braddock