The Governance of Trans Existence (2) RMV Story



The Governance of Trans Existence (2) RMV Story tells the story of my experience at the RMV, where I encountered the most difficulty in the process of changing my name. I use blacked-out versions of the forms involved, and re-appropriate them as a backdrop for my story. The text that tells the story is written in a standard typeface commonly used on these forms and is typeset with no hyphenation, mimicking the software used to make them. However, it is orange in color, large in size, bleeds into the margins, and changes orientation, struggling to find it's place on the page. This piece is another attempt to show that these complex and emotional journeys are often only documented by stale and standardized forms, which cannot accurately depict the struggles endured throughout the process.


Massachusetts Transgender Community Resource: Legally Changing your Name and Gender Marker + How to Apply for a State or Real ID


In the act of writing this story, I also compiled a list of links and resources to create a guide that can be updated and added to, to serve as a resource for the trans community in Massachusetts.
© Julian Parikh 2022