Suzy, Drinker Of Coffee

Thoughts on Tuesday, and the GRP

Today, I will admit, I am getting bored... but at least I've got the hospital appointment tomorrow (yes I'm sure this time, ok?) to get me out the house! No headaches today (I kind of get the idea that whatever caused it is now gone).

I realise that I write a lot of stuff on this blog - but believe it or not, it's about 90-95% of what I do, and who I am. Most of it is stuff that you could see me do outside anyway, if you followed me around (please don't though lol!), or followed the same paths and trails that I do, around my world. Having said that, the next bit might not have been obvious if I'd not mentioned it.

The majority of non-trans people may well manage to get through life without need for a birth certificate, yet the majority of trans people were - in the past - feeling bad by not having a "correct" one. Then came a challenge to the European Court of Human Rights, and then the UK Government passed the Gender Recognition Act 2004, which then brought us the Gender Recognition Panel in 2005. What this does is not to stamp over anyone else's ground or religion, it merely offers a transperson the ability to apply for a Gender Recognition Certificate. This assumes (under "standard track" procedure) they are not married or in a civil partnership, that they were born in the UK, and have lived in their new gender for at least two years, but also that they intend to live this way for the rest of their life. This involves getting a "letter of support" from two sources - a gender qualified doctor, and another source, as well as supplying evidence (i.e. letters) to show how long you have been living this way. After that, you are issued with a Gender Recognition Certificate (which, it is said, will not be used a s a database of all known transsexuals), which will then be sent to the Registrar in your area (for Scottish persons), who then contacts you about the new birth certificate (the mini one is supplied free of charge, the full one costs the usual rates).

So what does this mean to me? The "standard track" procedure opened during 2005, but I would have qualified after 9th April 2006 (remember I came out on Friday 9th April 2004). I've had quite a busy summer, but I've been able to catch up on some of the backlog recently. I've had a look at the rules, and now await the paper copies of the paperwork. Then, it's another step in the right direction, towards the person I always should have been. It's a few weeks of paperwork, checking things, then some more paperwork in all directions, and then eventually, I can buy a full copy of the birth certificate in my corrected gender. Now, the original one remains there on the records - AEG doesn't quite disappear - but there again, I don't see why I need one, but the opportunity to get it is still there (and no discount for out-of-date goods!)

A person with a Gender Recognition Certificate is, from the day of issue, then legally classed as being of the gender to which they have applied. This includes changes to things like pensions in some cases, but it also gives legal rights to the holder, so that they don’t have to advise of their incorrect gender, 99% of the time. It also means those in the 1% of time who have to know your full life history, are legally obliged not to repeat it to anyone, except others of their status.

There are two people who may well not sit easy with this. Firstly, my mother, which is obvious (we've talked, and it appears her religious leaders can't tell the difference between a kinky crossdresser, and someone with a genuine medical disorder - amongst others). That will come in time, or it won't. I had offered her to accompany me to a future "gender clinic" appointment (even promising to make sure I got her back in time for her other commitments on a Tuesday evening at her church, during Dundee City school terms only), but she's turned me down flat. That's a long term one.

The second group are my American friends, whom include several transpeople, of both directions. Things like this are decided by the state - and the majority of states do not have it. I'm really sorry your politicians are not as open minded (or threatened by challenge) as ours. There again, if you have any British blood in you, it may be worth having a look on the "Overseas" policy, on www.grp.gov.uk

Food for thought I guess!

posted by Suzy Scott @ 22:10