Last year Oklahoma judge Bill Graves, denied Angela Renee Ingram the right to change her name ruling that the name change request was fraudulent "because you can't change what God gave you". Graves also stated that, "A so-called sex-change surgery can make one appear to be the opposite sex, but in fact they are nothing more than an imitation of the opposite sex." The Oklahoma ACLU representing Ingram got the ruling overturned recently in the Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals.
“This ruling represents another important victory that says equality and fundamental rights are not dependent upon an individual’s gender identity,” said Brady Henderson, Legal Director of the ACLU of Oklahoma and Ingram’s attorney in the case.
Henderson continued by saying, “Judge Graves had disregarded Oklahoma law and fundamental principles of free speech and equal protection by imposing his own philosophy over Oklahomans’ personal right to reflect their own identity through their legally recognized name. The Oklahoma Court of Civil Appeals did the right thing in reversing that decision.”
Ingram wasn't the only transgender woman denied a name change by Judge Graves. Christie Ann Harvey was disallowed a name change where Graves sited Bible passages in court. Both women have now successful appealed their case.