BOSTON — GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders (GLAD), the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition and the global law firm Ropes & Gray are collaborating on a "Transgender ID Project," they announced Monday.

The project will offer legal guidance to transgender people living in any of the six New England States in completing legal name changes and updating identity documents such as birth certificates, Social Security cards, U.S. passports, driver's licenses and state identification cards to reflect proper name and gender.

"Accurate identity documents are critical for the safety and dignity of transgender people,” said Jennifer Levi, director of GLAD’s Transgender Rights Project. “This project allows us to quickly and efficiently provide immediate support to people who need it. We’re grateful to Ropes & Gray for stepping up.”

“For transgender people, having accurate identification not only facilitates everyday interactions, but also safeguards their right to be treated fairly in the eyes of law enforcement and authority figures, something that is of utmost importance in today’s social and political climate,” said Mason Dunn, executive director of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Coalition.

Transgender people seeking to update their legal names and gender designations on federal and state documents can receive free legal representation through this program. To sign up, visit glad.org/ID, call GLAD Answers at 1-800-455-GLAD, or send an email to gladanswers@glad.org. Financial assistance for government filing fees may also be available.