Settlement Allows Transgender Teen to Wear Makeup for Driver's License Photo

A court settlement reached this week will allow a South Carolina transgender teen to pose for their driver's license photo wearing makeup and women's clothing.

The legal settlement, reached between South Carolina's Department of Motor Vehicles and 17-year-old Chase Culpepper, allows the teen to dress as a female for his license plate photo. The DMV has also reportedly also agreed to accommodate transgender individuals in the future as a result of the settlement. 

Culpepper had previously been barred from wearing makeup and women's clothing in his driver's license photo because the DMV had a policy prohibiting individuals from dressing in a manner that may disguise them in their identification photo.

"I am thrilled with the outcome of my lawsuit," Chase said in a statement following the settlement of the federal lawsuit. "My clothing and makeup reflect who I am. From Day 1, all I wanted was to get a driver's license that looks like me. Now I will be able to do that. It was hurtful to be singled out for being transgender and made to feel that somehow I wasn't good enough."

The state's DMV has reportedly refused to comment on this week's settlement, saying it does not discuss pending litigation.

DMV spokeswoman Beth Parks had previously told the Associated Press that the purpose of the agency's previous policy was to aid law enforcement officials in identifying individuals.

"If it's Thomas Jones on the license and yet it looks like a female, that is very confusing for them," she said. "They want to know what the identity is."