W.Va. woman denied driver's license in wife's name

[MountainLaurel]

For the year since she married her partner, waitress Cynthia Landis has legally been a Landis. It's the name on her Social Security card, her District of Columbia marriage certificate and her Virginia driver's license.

But the state of West Virginia won't recognize it. The Division of Motor Vehicles won't issue the Romney resident a driver's license in that name because she's married to a woman, and state law forbids the agency from recognizing any documents related to a same-sex marriage.

The DMV would be glad to issue the 34-year-old Landis a license in her ex-husband's last name of Hatton, Deputy Commissioner Steve Dale said. In the state's eyes, that's still legally her name.

Otherwise, her only option is to get a circuit court judge to order a name change. Dale said that would be a legal document.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/W-Va-woman-denied-driver-s-license-in-wife-s-name-4096460.php#ixzz2EJCJMPzx

[Marrah_G]

1. What a fucked up world we live in

[joeybee12]

2. What irony...she's a resident of a town called Romney!

That said, fuck it, it's her legal name, give her the damn DL!

[virginiaraine]

3. Thank you!

Thank you for posting my story ( I am Cynthia Landis)! I am glad that this is recieving such attention in the media. I am hopeful that the public debate may get the ball rolling in the right direction to stop this insanity!

[hrmjustin]

4. Welcome to DU!

[beyurslf]

5. Welcome to DU!

[MountainLaurel]

6. You're very welcome

My grandmother is from that neck of the woods (Burlington), and I know many gay WVans, many of whom left the state so they could have better and safer lives elsewhere.

[HockeyMom]

7. There is a way around this

at least until SC strikes down DOMA (they WILL) and these laws. This has happened a few times already in Florida. One was a man legally married in Ma. and refused a Florida driver's license in his married name.

The Federal Government, while not recognizing the gay marriage, WILL recognize it as a legal name change. The woman can get a US Passport issued in her married name. Then she can take that passport and out-of-state driver's license to the DMV. She will not need a birth certificate or any marriage license or anything else indicating whether she is married or not. Just plain DON'T tell them. The US Passport is enough ID and the states MUST take a Federal document.

I know this will cost $$$$ but it's a way around it, for now.