Changing your name in Ohio.
This evening, local members
of the LGBT
community got the process
started for folks in the
Mahoning Valley.
Reporter Dan Marcel spoke
to one of those people. He
joins us live in the newsroom.
A group right here in the
Valley is providing some free
legal advice to help.
Which for one person I
spoke with, can be a daunting
process.
Dan: Cameron Koeppel is
sitting in the basement of St.
John's Episcopal Church in
Youngstown.
He drove here from
Portsmouth, a nearly 5 hour
drive.
CAMERON - I'M TRYING TO GET MY
NAME CHANGED BUT I DON'T
NECESSARILY KNOW THE STEPS TO DO
SO.
Dan: Cameron is
transgender.
He was born with the legal
name Catherine.
But to him, that's not who
he is.
CAMERON - YOU DON'T FEEL
COMFORTABLE IN THE BODY YOU'RE
IN. AND THAT INCLUDES THE NAME
YOU MAY HAVE, THE LOOK
THAT YOU HAVE. Dan:
Full Spectrum Community
Outreach group put on the event.
The non-profit provides
resources to the LGBT community
in the tri-county area.
CAMERON - A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE
LGBT COMMUNITY DON'T HAVE THE
RESOURCES THEY NEED.
DAN TIRABASSI, FULL SPECTRUM
OUTREACH - PEOPLE ARE
FEELING MORE COMFORTABLE DOING
IT HERE. THE MORE PEOPLE
THAT DO IT THE MORE PEOPLE
REALIZE IT'S NOT THAT TRAUMATIC
OF AN EXPERIENCE Dan: The
process of changing your name
legally takes about 3 months.
After meeting with a lawyer
today, there's paperwork.
Then a background check.
And finally appearing
before a
judge to confirm the process.
CAMERON - IT'S NOT GOING TO
HAPPEN OVERNIGHT. AND THAT'S
SOMETHING
THAT I JUST NEED TO KEEP
REMINDING MYSELF.
The group is also hosting
another clinic on the 18th of
April in Lima.
Dan Marcel WKBN 27 First
News.
