Advertisement Upstate teen told to take off make-up for driver’s license photo Teen's mother: DMV worker said teen was wearing disguise Share Shares Copy Link Copy

An Upstate teen wants to retake his driver’s license picture after he says the employees at the Anderson Department of Motor Vehicle made him take off his make-up for the picture. Chase Culpepper, 16, wears make-up and girl’s clothing every day. He considers himself gender non-conforming.Culpepper says on March 3 he went to the DMV office in Anderson with his mother to get his driver’s license. He said he had already passed the test and was told he could not have his picture taken while wearing make-up because he did not look the way a boy should.Culpepper’s mother spoke to WYFF News 4’s Angela Rodriguez. "They said he was wearing a disguise," said Teresa Culpepper. "It was very hurtful. He was absolutely devastated. That’s who he is 24/7," said Culpepper.Beth Parks with DMV said the employees at the Anderson DMV followed policy. She said in Aug. of 2009 the policy was updated to say, "At no time will an applicant be photographed when it appears that he or she is purposely altering his or her appearance so that the photo would misrepresent his or her identity."Culpepper said he ultimately removed his make-up so he could get his picture taken. (Picture below: Chase once he removed make-up)The Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund is calling upon the SCDMV to allow Culpepper to retake his picture."Chase’s freedom to express his gender should not be restricted by DMV staff,” said TLDEF executive director Michael Silverman in the letter to the DMV. “He is entitled to be who he is and to express that without interference from government actors. Forcing Chase to remove his makeup prior to taking his driver’s license photo restricts his free speech rights in violation of state and federal constitutional protections."