Transgender man who fought for male name dies at age 25

by Rob Howard
Associate Editor

Rowan Feldhaus, a transgender man who fought for the right to change his name in Georgia courts, has died at age 25.

The Atlanta Journal Constitution reported that Feldhaus had a hysterectomy, and a few days later went into septic shock and lost oxygen to his brain.

The AJCreported,  “’After having been discriminated against by a judge who refused to allow him to change his name because he was transgender, Rowan wanted to make sure that no other transgender person was similarly insulted and objectified,’ said Lambda Legal attorney Beth Littrell, who represented Feldhaus. ‘Because Rowan stood up, Georgia judges are now required to allow people to change their names without bias.’” 

Lambda Legal represented Feldhaus and Andrew Baumert in their lawsuit. A Georgia appeals court ruled in January that Feldhaus could change his name.

A state judge had said they had to choose gender-neutral names, because male names could confuse and mislead people.

Lambda Legal reported Feldhaus’ reaction to the decision on its website at the time of the court victory. "’I’m so happy and so relieved that we won and that this is done. Being able to have my name reflect who I am as a man and have it be legal is so powerful and so important to me,’ said Rowan Feldhaus. ‘I hope that other judges see this and think twice before imposing their personal beliefs on another transgender person looking to change their name.’

“Columbia County Superior Court Judge J. David Roper had denied Rowan's request for a name change, arguing that Feldhaus’ requested middle name, Elijah, was not gender-neutral: ‘I do not approve of changing names from male to female – male names to obvious female names, and vice versa,’ Judge Roper said. ‘I think it is misleading to the public and think that it is dangerous in some circumstances for one – for the public not to know whether they’re dealing with a male or a female.’”

About the decision in January, Lambda Legal wrote, “’ This decision solidifies an important right for the transgender community to have a name that matches and affirms their gender identities and obliterates the dangerous notion that living in conformity with that gender is somehow fraudulent or otherwise a concern for the government,’ said Lambda Legal Counsel Beth Littrell. ‘This decision puts judges on notice that their personal beliefs, which in this case were sexist and biased against transgender people, are not a substitution for the law.’”

Transgender Georgians and all LGBTQ people owe Rowan Feldhaus a debt of gratitude for his courage in challenging a hostile court decision. May he rest in peace.

Copyright 2017 The Gayly – May 23, 2017 @ 2:25 p.m.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.