Gender recognition in Ireland?

Freiheit

I know the process for recognition is on going,shamefully. But am I right in understanding that to have my passport and documents legally changed that I need to have srs?.

I'm hoping to have facial feminisation long before that and it would be a bit odd for me to (hopefuly ) be an optical female and have male documentation.

Is it proposed that under the new legislation that srs will be required for such?.

Even now while it would be a stretch for me to be gendered female,I don't resemble the photo on my passport. Have I any cause for concern with travel to mainland Europe or the UK?.

F

Annasopra

Freiheit wrote: »

I know the process for recognition is on going,shamefully. But am I right in understanding that to have my passport and documents legally changed that I need to have srs?.

I'm hoping to have facial feminisation long before that and it would be a bit odd for me to (hopefuly ) be an optical female and have male documentation.

Is it proposed that under the new legislation that srs will be required for such?.

Even now while it would be a stretch for me to be gendered female,I don't resemble the photo on my passport. Have I any cause for concern with travel to mainland Europe or the UK?.

F

You can get a passport - I don't think you can get any other official documentation though

Finally, s11 of the Passports Act, 2008 does contain some official recognition of trans people and permits anyone ‘who has undergone, or is undergoing, treatment or procedures or both to alter the applicant’s sexual characteristics and physical appearance to those of the opposite sex’ to be issued with a passport which reflects that preferred gender identity.

Azure_sky

I'm pretty sure you can get a drivers license also without SRS. It's the birth cert that's the main issue as it's regarded as an official state document and it's, supposedly unconstitutional to alter a state document. I could be wrong but that seems to be what the issue is about.

deirdre_dub

Freiheit wrote: »

I know the process for recognition is on going,shamefully. But am I right in understanding that to have my passport and documents legally changed that I need to have srs?.

You are incorrect.

In order to change your documents, you only need your deed poll. However, in order to also change your gender marker (which would be a good idea if you aren't going with a gender-neutral name!), you just need a letter from Loughlinstown saying that you are undergoing treatment for GID. You don't need to have had surgery.

The passport office have a special procedure set up for transgender people changing their name and gender marker - you'll need to ask about it at the passport office. Note that they will only give you a 2 year passport unless you can prove that you've been using your new name for more than 2 years. I "proved" it by including in my application a link to a post I wrote on-line under Deirdre's name more than 2 years prior.

Even now while it would be a stretch for me to be gendered female,I don't resemble the photo on my passport. Have I any cause for concern with travel to mainland Europe or the UK?.

You might consider getting L'town or Dr. Kelly to write out a letter saying that you are GID, and that you might therefore not look like your passport photo.

I've heard of someone a few months on HRT presenting as passable female in full dress with a male passport managing to get on a plane. However, I've also heard the opposite - a trans woman well into her treatment, very passable, being hassled at a border because her passport still said male.

Annasopra

What do you mean by Gender Marker? Is that a document?

Shakti

mango salsa wrote: »

What do you mean by Gender Marker? Is that a document?

M or F
see below

Freiheit

Thanks,that's clarified a lot.

And how does one prove that one has been 'living 2 years in role' (in the words of Dr Thomas Ahern) before srs? How is this defined? (not that Im in any rush for such)

I'm actually really happy to be transitioning now and any doubts have gone. It all feels right and I'm feeling happier with myself.

I don't view myself as having a 'sex change' rather expressing my authentic self,that is not changing,it's merely been allowed to live now,that feels great.

deirdre_dub

Freiheit wrote: »

And how does one prove that one has been 'living 2 years in role' (in the words of Dr Thomas Ahern) before srs? How is this defined? (not that Im in any rush for such)

First of all, I'm not sure the requirement is for 2 years - I think it might be a year, or maybe less.

But as for how you prove it - I think the date of your deed poll is one of the most important ones that they take into account. It might also help to show bank accounts etc in your new name.

I'm actually really happy to be transitioning now and any doubts have gone. It all feels right and I'm feeling happier with myself.

That's great! It's fantastic how actually starting the process confirms that it is the right thing to do - I had the same experience.

I don't view myself as having a 'sex change' rather expressing my authentic self,that is not changing,it's merely been allowed to live now,that feels great.

Indeed. I think a lot of the language us trans people use to describe our experience needs to be looked at carefully. I don't "want" to be a woman, I've discovered that I am a woman.

Freiheit

Thanks Deirdre,yeah when I started it felt right in practice and there's no logical now other than legal reassignment of gender. It was analysis that caused doubt.

I believe in a definition of gender broader than that governed by optical reproductive organs at birth. In that sense I've always been a woman.