Have you ever struggled with changing your name after marriage? Are you in the LGBTQ+ community and wonder how to get your name changed on your birth certificate? Those questions and more were answered in a Youth Advocacy Workshop hosted by the Lancaster Friends School in Lancaster County, PA on October 24th. This workshop offered many presentations on a variety of topics including lobbying your representatives, writing letters to your elected officials, and using the best language to be most effective in lobbying.
In one of the workshop options, there was an LGBTQ+ presentation led by Representative Nikki Revera. Ms. Revera represents the citizens of northern Lancaster County. In her presentations, she talked about many LGBTQ+ laws in Pennsylvania and knowing what your rights are now. She went over bills that were in progress to become laws.
Ms. Revera talked about HB (house bill) 300, the Fairness Act which means no discrimination based on whomever they choose to love. She also presented on SB (senate bill) 523 ,which is the Removal of Sex from Birth Certificates. That makes sure that the legislation would remove the sex marker from birth certificates. Then Ms. Revera spoke about HB 1314 which is the main focus of my article.
HB 1314, the Name Change Assistance Grant Program, is for grants that are helping people to pay for getting their names changed. This bill was interesting to hear about, since many people don’t realize the whole system of getting your name changed in Pennsylvania. You have to file a “Petition for a Change of Name” with the Court of Common Pleas in your county, which involves getting fingerprinted, publishing a notice of the name change, and attending a court hearing. You will also need to certify that there are no liens or judgments against you, and they will check if you have a criminal background.
Then, you have to be able to pay for your name change. Ms. Revera had a personal connection to changing a name. She said it cost her family member 1,500 dollars to legally change their name on the birth certificate. It can vary, but according to my sources it costs around $100-$500. You’ll need your court filing fee, which differs from one county to another. There is also the publication cost. PA requires you to publish a notice of your name change in the local newspaper and a legal journal (there is an exception for safety concerns), which can cost several hundred dollars. If you hire an attorney, that can add to your cost.
The prime sponsorship was made by Rep. Benjamin Sanchez. The bill was co-sponsored by a group of representatives, including Sanchez, Shusterman, Smith-Wade-El (who was also presenting at one of the workshops at Lancaster Friends School), and Hill-Evans.
I was inspired to write about HB 1314 because I don’t think people who are already struggling with bills should have to pay to change their name. Your name is your identity. It’s what people are going to call you for the rest of your life. It’s important that the grants get to people who feel passionately that their names don’t fit who they are anymore. I wrote this to inform you of the House Bill 1314, which gives grants to people who are wanting to change their name.
I hope that when you finish reading this, you will feel inspired to stand up for causes you care about. If it’s animal rights, climate change or LGBTQ+ rights, stand up for them! If you care about a cause, especially now, don’t be afraid to voice your opinion. When you stand up, you’re representing your entire community. Write letters to your representatives. Lobby your elected officials. We need these bills to pass so that the world will be a better place.
I aim to write letters to my representatives to show how much HB 1314 matters to me. If you’re interested in learning more about changing your name, or any of the LGBTQ+ rights in Pennsylvania, call or email Nikki Revera. She’s very passionate about these topics and is a representative of Lancaster County. Thank you for taking the time to read this letter.
Charlotte Damaske is an eighth grader in the State College Friends School. Her class was able to attend the Lancaster Youth Workshop on October 24th. She is very grateful for the opportunity to learn about advocating as a child and enjoyed the workshops at Lancaster Friends School.