Name and Gender Marker Change Day of Celebration 

SAN JOSÉ, CA (October 10, 2025) :  The Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara celebrated its second annual Name and Gender Marker Change Day of Celebration on Friday, October 3, 2025, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. at The Family Justice Center Courthouse, located at 201 N. 1st Street, San Jose, CA 95113. 

This event was created to honor individuals who have obtained or are in the process of filing for a legal name and/or gender marker change in Santa Clara County. The celebration, held in collaboration with the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley, The Q Corner, The LGBTQ Youth Space, LGBTQ Wellness, and the Office of LGBTQ Affairs, highlighted the Court’s ongoing commitment to inclusivity, access to justice, and the recognition of each person’s authentic identity.  

Presiding Judge Julie A. Emede opened the program with welcoming remarks and introduced Judge Jessica Delgado, who organized and hosted the event in her courtroom. Judge Delgado emphasized the importance of recognizing and affirming identity within the judicial system and personally awarded five individuals their ceremonial certificates in front of family, friends, and community members.  

Throughout the event, attendees shared heartfelt reflections on what this milestone meant to them. Many described the day as “life-changing” and “a moment of true validation,” demonstrating the power of community and representation within the courthouse.  

Shakina, a guest speaker at the event, shared a moving poem that encapsulates the significance of claiming one’s name and embracing one's identity fully, “Shakespeare once wrote, ‘A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.’  But today we declare that a new name smells sweeter, blossoms brighter, and blooms more fully than all that flowered before. When we name ourselves we claim ourselves and allow the light of the sun-which is our truth—to affirm us root to earth, to strengthen our resolve and shine through us.” 

Following the ceremony, guests enjoyed refreshments and connected with local community organizations providing resources on updating identity documents and navigating name and gender marker change processes.  

The Court extends its gratitude to all who attended and contributed to making this historic celebration possible. By creating an affirming and welcoming space, the Santa Clara County Superior Court continues its dedication to ensuring that every individual who enters our doors feels recognized, supported, and respected.