Trans issue re. identification documents

Marsha McMallow

Howdy y'all.

I was chatting to a friend tonight and we got on to the topic of transgendered people, as you do. As someone who's part of the LGBT community I've had a bit of exposure to trans issues, so I'd be familiar with some of the hassle they have to go through on a day to day basis. It really surprised me when my friend said that he accepted that people wanted to change their biological gender, but thought that transgendered people shouldn't be allowed to change their sex on official documentation. When I asked him why he said mainly for medical reasons.

Now, I didn't refute this at the time, since I couldn't think of any medical issues that would arise which could be affected by this, and I've been thinking about it ever since. I'm just wondering if anyone knows of any medical issues which would require knowledge of a person's biological sex, or what other reasons there are for not being allowed to change your sex on documents like your passport or your birth cert, if any. I've also asked this question to someone I know who's studying medicine and I'm really curious to find out the answer.

L.Jenkins

Either way, I feel that a trans person should be allowed to change there documentation. As common sense would have it, should I fall ill and certain examinations required, I will inform staff of it. I don't think one's future medical issues should be an excuse to refuse a change in legal documents, as that in itself is a million times more hassle to me than bad health ever could be.

Links234

That's an interesting one.

I'm sure there's some medical issues that would require knowledge of a person's sex at birth, such as cervical cancer or prostate cancer. But I don't think that trans people would want to conceal their medical histories from their doctors anyway, or if that's even possible. So it doesn't make sense for medical issues being used as a reason for denying legal change of sex. Like, it would be in the best interest of trans people that their doctors are aware of medical histories, and what medication they're on (hormones etc). It strikes me as a fairly disingenuous argument against being able to correct documentation.

Marsha McMallow

Yeah, my personal view is that medical reasons are a non-issue as far as changing your sex legally goes, as you can tell your doctor about your past yourself. Also most emergency treatments where you might be unconscious will have nothing to do with hormones etc, so that doesn't really fly as a reason either.

I don't think he understood properly why a trans person would want to change their gender legally. Being outed every time you go on a holiday, or any other time you have to present identification would be horrible for someone trying to live a normal life. Someone else also pointed out to me that it might be dangerous in some places being outed as a trans person.

Are there any reasons that you know of, other than medical ones, for having to keep your birth sex on your identification?

Links234

Marsha McMallow wrote: »

Are there any reasons that you know of, other than medical ones, for having to keep your birth sex on your identification?

None.

deirdre_dub

Marsha McMallow wrote: »

Are there any reasons that you know of, other than medical ones, for having to keep your birth sex on your identification?

Quite the opposite - there are health reasons why your birth gender should not be on your identification - e.g. to protect you from violent transphobes.