Monday, February 7, 2011

South Dakota refuses to change married lesbian's last name

A lesbian living in South Dakota who married her partner in Iowa and took her partner's last name has been told she cannot change her name on a state-issued driver's license because South Dakota does not recognize same-sex unions. 

"This is an emerging issue for states that have passed these constitutional amendments prohibiting same-sex marriage. They're being used to deny people really basic rights," said Robert Doody, executive director of the South Dakota American Civil Liberties Union.