Teen sues DMV after being told to remove makeup

[Morphine Prince 109,655]

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP)  A 16-year-old in South Carolina sued the state's Department of Motor Vehicles on Tuesday because the agency won't allow him to take a driver's license photo wearing makeup.

Chase Culpepper regularly wears makeup and either androgynous or women's clothing. During a news conference Tuesday at the Statehouse in Columbia, he told reporters that being ordered by officials to remove what they called a disguise was degrading.

"I left the DMV feeling humiliated," Culpepper said. "I want to be myself and have a driver's license photo that reflects that."

After passing his driving test in March, Culpepper went to get his license at a DMV office in Anderson, about 100 miles northwest of Columbia. That day, as is the case every day, Culpepper wore makeup and women's clothing.

But the agency wouldn't let Culpepper wear makeup for a photo because of a policy that bans license pictures when someone is purposefully altering his or her appearance. After several attempts, Culpepper says the makeup was removed to the satisfaction of DMV employees, and a license photo was ultimately taken.

In June, a New York group known as the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund wrote to DMV officials, asking that Culpepper be allowed to have a new photo taken that's more reflective of his daily attire. The agency refused, citing DMV policy saying that "at no time will an applicant be photographed when it appears that he or she is purposely altering his or her appearance so that the photo would misrepresent his or her identity."

The group assisted in Culpepper's lawsuit, writing in the complaint that the policy is unconstitutionally vague and should be discarded, and that he should be allowed to take a new photo.

The policy "lets DMV employees arbitrarily decide how men and women need to look without regard for the rights of the people that they are supposed to serve," Michael Silverman, the fund's executive director, said Tuesday. "Chase should be allowed to get a driver's license without being subjected to s-x discrimination."

DMV officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the lawsuit. Silverman said he was not aware of another such case in the country involving a DMV's refusal to take a person's license photo based on makeup.

Source: https://news.yahoo.com/teen-sues-dmv-being-told-remove-makeup-164005963.html

[TimisaMonster 31,073]

It's for identification reasons....if you look like a woman, but you're a man, then if a cop pulls you over he won't be able to tell if it's really you...

[Haroon 49,685]

I see what he means in a way But I don't think it's something to sue over or that it's a big deal overall  They aren't against people wearing whatever they want I think, they just want pictures taken that are au natural

[blahblahblahhhh 15]

I am not sure how I feel about this.

 

I kind of understand their reason for not allowing him to appear as a woman in the ID photo.

[Mariann 301]

It's the ID photo. There is nothing to do about it. I am sure nobody wanted to humiliate him. 

[YCHofficial 5,293]

Dont woman in general always wear little or no make up at all when they take these kind of pics?

 

This sir is kinda messy :koons: 

[HOTRODSGAGA 81]

both parties are right and wrong at the same time. 

[Gagz 2,580]

If that's how he normally looks, I don't see a problem with him wearing the make up.

[rpggal 332]

As if make-up is really a disguise. Women are allowed to wear make-up in their pictures (I know I really caked it on when I took mine). It's not any different telling if a man is the same person behind make-up from telling if a woman is. The person still has the same features under the powder, it's not that hard.

[South Blonde 6,362]

A little bit of make up won't modify his appearance

[Knife 7,079]

But the agency wouldn't let Culpepper wear makeup for a photo because of a policy that bans license pictures when someone is purposefully altering his or her appearance.

 

 

What bull****.

 

If that were the case, hair extensions, wigs, hair dye and makeup should be banned across the board on women and it's not.

[Phoenix 17,395]

[Brooklyn Nights 163]

But, women aren't allowed to wear makeup either. No one is. It's not discrimination, it's just a rule that applies to all.

[Luc 4,776]

It's for identification reasons....if you look like a woman, but you're a man, then if a cop pulls you over he won't be able to tell if it's really you...

But if he wears make-up, which he does all the time, he won't be recognized either. I get the rule, but this no make-up will make it harder to recognize him.

[Whispering 18,865]

But, women aren't allowed to wear makeup either. No one is. It's not discrimination, it's just a rule that applies to all.

 

What? Women wear makeup in their pictures!