Surgery Not Needed 2 Change Gender

[TsJizelle]

TORONTO — Ontario's human rights tribunal says those who change their sex should be able to have their new gender registered on their birth certificates without undergoing surgery.

The tribunal says requiring "transsexual surgery" before people can have their provincially issued birth certificates changed is discriminatory.

The requirement, according to the tribunal, stigmatizes the transgendered and promotes the stereotype that they must have the operation to live as the gender they feel.

The decision affirms that gender identity should be recognized based on how a person lives.

The tribunal has advised the Ontario government of its finding and given it six months to change its practice.

The government also has to publicize the changes within the trans community.
Source: http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TopStories/20120420/transsexual-surgery-ontario-120420/#ixzz1t7MIu400

I am ready to line up around the block with the rest of the ladies! Finally someone in the world saw what was the right thing to do! This as said on other news articles, could be a "game-changer for the world"!

I have heard of lawyers in New York working very closely with those here in Ontario about implementing this change, and always thought that New York would be the first to take the step. But it's amazing to see that here, I can be apart of the first group of trans people to be able to change our gender without the need of surgery.

Let's hope this will spread like wild fire.

[rydermorrison]

Thats awesome! canada keeps sounding better and better..

[SammiValentine]

Sounds great for Canada!!!

Game Changer for the world sounds a bit incorrect thought, since The Gender Recognition Act 2004 (and subsequent additions changes 2007??) has given us the opportunity to apply for legal recognition and a Gender Recognition Certiifcate, if succesful you can then use your GRC to obtain a new birth cetificte. Surgery or hormones is not "neccesary" to be considered. There are several hoops to jump through of course but surgery is not a prerequisite step.

How many have actually had a birth certificate change without surgery I would be very interested to know!!

If I am incorrect on these facts ooops but pretty sure they are right. .. Personally I never attempted to get a GRC myself as was always put off by the thought of a close government inspection, would my lifestyle be judged, my "career" etc taken into account, didnt fancy a mud slinging match hen had so many other bits that seemed more important to deal with. Also I can manage perfectly fine with my passport/drivers licence short term.

Interesting enough organisations such as HMRC (her majestys revnue and customs) cannot legally recognise you as female, unless provide them with new GRC/birth certificate - they happily refer to you as Miss and sign/change all letters etc but on their records somewhere your still shown as male until they get the new birth certificate. So i was told in 2007/2008 I think it was anyway when changin tax records to match my passport etc.

Good luck with it ! x

[shaustin]

that must come in to play with licenses and passports and such too right? otherwise it doesn't sound that bad. i think i've had to use my birth certificate maybe twice in my life for things. if it said i was a female, honestly, i wouldn't have cared a whole lot.

[SammiValentine]

that must come in to play with licenses and passports and such too right? otherwise it doesn't sound that bad. i think i've had to use my birth certificate maybe twice in my life for things. if it said i was a female, honestly, i wouldn't have cared a whole lot.


You can also get passport/licneces without surgery or hormones in UK and also more recently in Canada., by going through the proper channels. Birth Certificate always seen as the final step Documentation wise, was a huge talking point here for a long time,other proofs of I.D not so much a debate.

[Mayrah]

The Netherlands have this too, its been approved recently and i think you can change it jan 1 2013

[TsJizelle]

Sounds great for Canada!!!

Game Changer for the world sounds a bit incorrect thought, since The Gender Recognition Act 2004 (and subsequent additions changes 2007??) has given us the opportunity to apply for legal recognition and a Gender Recognition Certiifcate, if succesful you can then use your GRC to obtain a new birth cetificte. Surgery or hormones is not "neccesary" to be considered. There are several hoops to jump through of course but surgery is not a prerequisite step.

How many have actually had a birth certificate change without surgery I would be very interested to know!!

If I am incorrect on these facts ooops but pretty sure they are right. .. Personally I never attempted to get a GRC myself as was always put off by the thought of a close government inspection, would my lifestyle be judged, my "career" etc taken into account, didnt fancy a mud slinging match hen had so many other bits that seemed more important to deal with. Also I can manage perfectly fine with my passport/drivers licence short term.

Interesting enough organisations such as HMRC (her majestys revnue and customs) cannot legally recognise you as female, unless provide them with new GRC/birth certificate - they happily refer to you as Miss and sign/change all letters etc but on their records somewhere your still shown as male until they get the new birth certificate. So i was told in 2007/2008 I think it was anyway when changin tax records to match my passport etc.

Good luck with it ! x


that must come in to play with licenses and passports and such too right? otherwise it doesn't sound that bad. i think i've had to use my birth certificate maybe twice in my life for things. if it said i was a female, honestly, i wouldn't have cared a whole lot.

sorry perhaps sammi was right, and my wording for a game changer for the world might not be 100% accurate as there are some places where you can get these changes done without surgery. however here in Canada, Ontario is the only province where you could get your driver's license gender changed with out surgery and now it's the first where you can get your birth certificate changed as well under the same premise.

There have been very strict guidelines to have your Passport and Birth Certificate's gender changed, and as stated in the article, required a 'permanent' surgical alteration. Those who received orchie's could do this, but finally the government is being forced to comply with understanding how this is discriminatory and stigmatizes what makes someone trans.

Sadly this recent change can only happen for those who obtain Ontario issued Birth Certificates. Birth Certificates are the main form of ID to have any other government issued ID changed. So this now means that ALL of your ID, if you are born in Ontario, can now legally match the gender you live in. so Passport, Health Card, Driver's License and Birth Certificate!

[SammiValentine]

good luck with it girl!! sounds very good news!xx

[MrsKellyPierce]

awesome..Canada is so open-minded and supportive of you girls/boys

[lisaparadise]

Sounds great for Canada!!!

Game Changer for the world sounds a bit incorrect thought, since The Gender Recognition Act 2004 (and subsequent additions changes 2007??) has given us the opportunity to apply for legal recognition and a Gender Recognition Certiifcate, if succesful you can then use your GRC to obtain a new birth cetificte. Surgery or hormones is not "neccesary" to be considered. There are several hoops to jump through of course but surgery is not a prerequisite step.

How many have actually had a birth certificate change without surgery I would be very interested to know!!

well i had my birth certificate changes years ago without srs as for the m on my other ids that got changed a few months ago to f without srs its easier then ya think.

[SammiValentine]

well i had my birth certificate changes years ago without srs as for the m on my other ids that got changed a few months ago to f without srs its easier then ya think.

thats pretty damn cool!! :) xx

[MdR Dave]

Thats awesome! canada keeps sounding better and better..

But you'd have to buy a toque and become a fur trapper or hockey player.

Stay in LA, Ryder!

[tao1kiku]

Yeah, but we've got awesome Poutine, Beaver Tails and Montreal Smoked Meat on Rye bread with Mustard and a cold (Canadian) beer is amazing!

[MdR Dave]

Yeah, but we've got awesome Poutine, Beaver Tails and Montreal Smoked Meat on Rye bread with Mustard and a cold (Canadian) beer is amazing!

I was not aware of the poutine.

[TsJizelle]

well i had my birth certificate changes years ago without srs as for the m on my other ids that got changed a few months ago to f without srs its easier then ya think.

there are ways around it, i've found detailed steps on how to do it without surgery. but the fact that the government has to comply with this order as it's viewed as discriminatory is a huge step for Canada, as this is the first step made in Canada to allow this to be done without the need of surgery. There were always loopholes and ways around it, but now, for Ontario born residents, we don't have to do it sketchy anymore, but rather directly through a simple application.

[ghbryans1]

The emperor's new clothes.