US: Florida gay couple ordered to change legal surnames or lose their driver’s licenses
A gay couple in Florida who married out of state have been warned their driver’s licenses could be cancelled if they do not change their legal names.
WFTV reports the Florida Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) issued a letter to Daniel and Scott Wall-Desousa a week after they had appeared on television to discuss their name change.
“It informs me and notifies me that my driving privileges will be cancelled indefinitely as of November 22,” said Daniel Wall-Desousa.
They couple had changed their legal surnames to include the double-barrel hyphen on their driving licences by showing their marriage license.
“It is a “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, and I guess we have been told, here is the repercussion,” Scott added.
The couple says they plan to file a lawsuit because they feel they are being targeted.
“Everything has been changed to my benefits, to my Florida pension. How does one undo all that?” Daniel said.
The letter, which addresses the couple using their hyphenated surname, was sent only a week after their television appearance WFTV Channel 9.
“What does that say to you?” Channel 9 anchor Jorge Estevez said.
