A South Carolina teenager was allegedly forced to remove his makeup in order to take a photograph for his driver's license.
Chase Culpepper, who is male but identifies as gender non-conforming, was about to take a photograph at the Anderson Department of Motor Vehicles on March 3 when he was asked to remove his makeup because it concealed his identity, CBS Charlotte reported.
"[The DMV employee] said I could not wear a disguise to take my photo, and according to her, me wearing makeup would be a disguise. And I did not look like a boy should," Culpepper, 16, told WYFF-TV.
But Culpepper, of Anderson, said he went to the DMV wearing the same feminine clothing he usually wears to school and work.
"This is how I am every day," he told FoxCarolina.com. "And if a police officer wanted to recognize how I am, then he would want to see who I am in my picture as well."
Culpepper complied with the request and took the photo. But he feels that his rights were violated and is demanding to re-take his driver's license photo with his makeup on. The teen is also considering legal action against the DMV if they refuse to let him re-take the photo.
"Chase's freedom to express his gender should not be restricted by the DMV staff," the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund wrote in a letter to the DMV on Culpepper's behalf, CBS Charlotte reported. "Forcing Chase to remove his makeup...restricts his free speech rights in violation of state and federal constitutional protections."
DMV representative Beth Parks told CBS Charlotte that the employee was following a policy that prohibits a person from "purposely altering his or her appearance so that the photo would misrepresent his or her identity."
Beth also said that the DMV will recognize someone's changed gender if it is recognized by the courts, Fox 43 reported.
