One of the complications that trans-people face is changing their birth certificate. In some states all they do is issue a new certificate and the old certificate is still file, in some states they draw a line through the name and gender and write in the new name and gender. While in a couple they do not allow the certificate to be changed. However, in all states you can only change your birth certificate after you have surgery which is in many cases impossible for many trans-people they might have a medical reason that makes surgery impossible or they may not be able to afford the $30,000 to over a $100,000 for the surgery.
However, now Canada has giving a glimmer of hope to our brothers and sisters there,
However, now Canada has giving a glimmer of hope to our brothers and sisters there,
Ontario allows transgender people to change birth certificate without surgerySome people argue that a birth certificate is legal record and should not be changed, but many legal documents are changed including your name on the birth certificate. In all 50 states you can change your name on it. Some argue that it should indicate what you have between your legs, my answer to that is why? Has anyone ever check to see what you have between your legs or for that matter has anyone ever asked to see your birth certificate? Probably the only time any has requested your birth certificate was when you applied for a job and even then they never checked what you have between your legs, they just wanted to check if you are a U.S. citizen. Wouldn’t it be better for the gender on your birth certificate reflect the way you live?
The Globe and Mail
The Canadian Press
Oct. 12, 2012
People who live as the opposite sex in Ontario can now change their gender on their birth certificates without first undergoing sex-change surgery.
New rules that have recently come into effect allow transgender people born in the province to apply to have the document amended by submitting a letter from a practicing physician or a psychologist.
[…]
Ontario is the first province in Canada to scrap the requirement.
It stems from a ruling by the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario this April in the case of a born-male woman known as XY.
The tribunal found the legislation requiring proof of “transsexual surgery” to alter birth documents to be discriminatory.
In its ruling, the tribunal said the requirement added to the stigma felt by members of the transgender community and reinforced stereotypes surrounding how they experience gender.
There was a comment made that I will not publish because the person used a slang term for a body part, but they made a comment that is worth discussing. They pointed out the case of Colleen Francis out in Washington State (Transgender woman told to leave women’s locker room) and how there were complaints about her being in the women’s locker room. First, there was never any mention in the articles that I read if she was post-op or not. Next there never was any mention about public nudity, so how do they know if she had surgery or not. Lastly, no one ask her about her birth certificate, so how does this case relate to changing your birth certificate? The commenter comment seems more about passing privilege than about birth certificates.
ReplyDeleteNext I said that surgery cost anywhere from $30,000 to over $100,000 and the commenter questioned my numbers, saying that “First off your figures are wildly inaccurate!” Well from the information that I have Male to Female surgery usually runs from about $30,000 to $50,000 (including therapy to get your letter for surgery and post-surgery recovery. Some doctors have you stay after surgery in a motel room while others have a post-surgery care facility.) depending on where you have your surgery here in the U.S. yes, you can travel to other countries like Thailand where you can get it done for less and you can also cut corners on your post-op care. Female to Male surgery cost more depending upon what exactly you want done and is more invasive surgery especially if you also include a hysterectomy. So I still stand by my numbers.
Then she said “Secondly if one really needs to correct their sex they will find a way! I can show anyone how to raise the money in 18 months to three years tops but it does require sacrifices which are usually the REAL problem! Not that it can't be done!” I have worked with trans-people who cannot even afford their next meal let alone raise enough money to see a therapist to get there hormones, they buy their hormones off the street.
Lastly, the commenter didn’t address that fact that some trans-people cannot have elective surgery. There might be some medical problems like diabetes or they had a stroke and are on blood thinners and if they have any surgery it could be fatal.
So she did not break any laws, she didn’t attack anyone, she didn’t expose herself, in other words her only crime according to you is that she didn’t pass and she doesn’t want surgery.
ReplyDeleteI have deleted comments that were made; in researching the allegations that she exposed herself in the lock room could not be supported. There are no news stories to collaborate her accusation.
ReplyDeleteThe commenter also said that there are no medical reasons not to have surgery which is also not true. Surgeons will not operate on a diabetic if their blood glucose is uncontrolled nor will they operate on anyone who have certain heart conditions.
I believe the commenter is a troll.