Transgender advocate from Georgia who took on judge dies

AUGUSTA, Ga. — An Augusta man who fought to legally change his name to match his gender identity recently died after complications from surgery, officials said Tuesday.

The LGBT nonprofit Lambda Legal said Rowan Feldhaus, 25, died Tuesday of surgical complications.

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

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

Lambda Legal spokesman Jonathan Adams said in a brief interview that he doesn't know what surgery Feldhaus underwent.

Attorney Beth Littrell said in the statement: "Because Rowan stood up, Georgia judges are now required to allow people to change their names without bias."

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