SOUTH CAROLINA — A teen in upstate South Carolina is suing the DMV in federal court for discrimination.
Sixteen-year-old Chase Culpepper, who was born a boy, wears makeup and dresses in androgynous or women’s clothing. The suit claims DMV employees forced Chase to remove the makeup, citing a policy that bans license photos when people alter their appearance on purpose.
“I should be able to get a driver’s license and not be subjected to discrimination, and so should other gender non-conforming people like me,” said Chase.
“It was heart-wrenching to see him go through being degraded and humiliated because he wears make up,” said Chase’s mother Teresa Culpepper.
The Transgender Legal Defense and Education fund says the appearance rule is unconstitutional because it is vague and arbitrary. The DMV is not commenting.
