South Dakota Supreme Court Denies Transgender Woman's Birth Certificate Gender Change

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The South Dakota Supreme Court has denied a transgender woman's request to change the gender marker on her birth certificate. Sigrid Nielsen filed a lawsuit in September 2024 to amend her birth certificate, but a lower court denied the request. The state's highest court upheld the lower court's decision in a 5-0 ruling, stating that current state laws do not permit changing the sex designation on birth certificates.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing legal battles over transgender rights and identity documentation in conservative states like South Dakota, where lawmakers have resisted efforts to update policies around gender markers on official records. The court's opinion suggests the issue should be left to the state legislature, signaling a reluctance to intervene on this matter.

The details

Sigrid Nielsen, a transgender woman living in Sioux Falls, filed a lawsuit in September 2024 seeking to amend the gender marker on her birth certificate. A lower court denied her request, and Nielsen appealed the decision to the South Dakota Supreme Court. In a 5-0 ruling, the state's highest court upheld the lower court's decision, stating that current state laws do not provide a legal mechanism for changing the sex designation on birth certificates.

• Sigrid Nielsen filed the lawsuit in September 2024.
• The lower court denied Nielsen's request to change the gender marker on her birth certificate.
• Nielsen appealed the lower court's decision to the South Dakota Supreme Court.
• The South Dakota Supreme Court issued its 5-0 ruling denying Nielsen's appeal in March 2026.

What’s next

The ruling suggests that any changes to allow transgender individuals to update the gender marker on their birth certificates would need to come through action by the South Dakota state legislature.