Transgender Man Denied A Marriage License in Oakland County

PONTIAC, Mich. (WJBK) - A transgender man says an Oakland County court denied him and his fiancé a marriage license because his sex change was not complete.

Jordan Swan, 25, tells FOX 2's Simon Shaykhet that he's taken the necessary surgical steps to become a man, including a hysterectomy and hormone therapy, but it isn't enough in the eyes of the court. That's because Swan's birth certificate still says he's a female. Same-sex marriage is not recognized in the state of Michigan.

"I think it's complete bullsh*t," said Swan. "I'm getting every right that I have taken away from me."

FOX 2 Legal Analyst Charlie Langton weighed in on the matter and says that all signs point to Swan having completed his "gender reassignment" and he just needs to update his birth certificate to marry legally.

"If a doctor signs an affidavit that says you've had the sex reassignment, you can take that to the courthouse and you can get a new birth certificate," said Langton. "You don't need a penis to become a man."

Swan tells FOX 2 he plans to update the certificate and then get married as soon as possible.