Tenn. unknowingly marries transgender couple; subject jailed as man, identifies as woman
By Associated Press
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Jo T. Rittenberry and Jeffery Scott Phillips recently learned their 18-month marriage is invalid because the state considers both to be men.
Rittenberry, who is 46, was born a man but identifies as a woman and claims to have had sex reassignment surgery in Canada. Rittenberry had officials legally change the gender on Rittenberry’s Kentucky birth certificate and Tennessee driver’s license, the Clarksville Leaf Chronicle reports.
But the Montgomery Sheriff’s Department spokesman Ted Denny said Rittenberry is being housed with men because Rittenberry has male genitalia.
Rittenberry is charged with domestic assault and criminal impersonation.
Tennessee does not permit same-sex marriage and does not recognize gender change even after sex reassignment surgery.



