gender marker change OHIP - ontario canada

[VIIP]

So, I have had my name legally changed, I have had my gender marker changed on my drivers liscence by writing the DMV a personal letter, and getting a similar letter made from my family doctor  - which also included my drivers liscence number..

But, now I am at a standstill-how do you get your gender marker changed on your OHIP card.

Thanks in advance!


I live in Ontario, Canada.

Ps...how do I update gender marker on passport will also help 😀 to save a step.

[rachl]

I had my gender already changed on my DL. When I went in to change my name on my DL, OHIP, and car title, the clerk changed my gender on OHIP at the same time -- I didn't even have to ask.

I consider myself insanely lucky. What experiences have others had?

[VIIP]

If you did this in toronto, which location did you use .. im using lakeshore/leslie

[rachl]

No, I'm in the KW area.

[eli77]

I took in my passport and my driver's license (both with correct name & gender marker), and asked them to change both the name and gender on the OHIP card. They asked to see my birth certificate (which did not have the correct gender at the time), and I told them I didn't have it with me, I just had the passport & driver's license. They changed the gender marker for me. This was in Ottawa.

Technically they are not supposed to change your gender marker on the OHIP card without your birth certificate already being changed. But most of the Service Ontario clerks don't know about that.

[VIIP]

thank you

I took in my passport and my driver's license (both with correct name & gender marker), and asked them to change both the name and gender on the OHIP card. They asked to see my birth certificate (which did not have the correct gender at the time), and I told them I didn't have it with me, I just had the passport & driver's license. They changed the gender marker for me. This was in Ottawa.

Technically they are not supposed to change your gender marker on the OHIP card without your birth certificate already being changed. But most of the Service Ontario clerks don't know about that.

[ShawnaB]

Okay I'm really curious now.  In order to complicate my life even further I'm Canadian (born in Ontario) living in the UK.  And I get change all of my Canadian ID later this year. 

@Sarah7- how did you get your passport changed without a changed BC? Was that under "planning to have SRS within a year" clause?

@rachl- did you go to the office way out on Ottawa St? That's where I had my Ontario license renewed last.

And in general, does anyone have an update on what the new requirements are for changing an Ontario birth certificate gender marker post the surgical requirement being scrapped?

[rachl]

Shawna, the Ontario BC SRS requirement hasn't been "scrapped": it's been struck down by the OHRC. That was in April, and the provincial government has 6 months to comply by replacing the requirement (they might put something else that violates the OHRC ruling). Governments RARELY comply in time, and rarely comply with a fully adequate new policy. Expect this to take a few years to be finalized.

"Way out on Ottawa St?" You make it sound like living out there is a bad thing 😉 No, I went to a place near Conestoga Mall. It was immediately after my PhD convocation (I'm not even kidding), because that was the office closest to where my mom was staying in a hotel (and near where we were going for dinner).

I got lucky...very very lucky. I don't think that that particular office is more likely than others to do what they did for me.

[ShawnaB]

"Way out on Ottawa St?" You make it sound like living out there is a bad thing 😉 No, I went to a place near Conestoga Mall. It was immediately after my PhD convocation (I'm not even kidding), because that was the office closest to where my mom was staying in a hotel (and near where we were going for dinner).

Having grown up next to UofW, Ottawa St was way out there . I'm sure it's lovely. I do actually know people who (last I checked) lived in that area. I think the I was extra annoyed with the Ottawa St office as I couldn't find the place, and for some reason it was the only one in KW I could go to to change back to an Ontario license.

Hmm, so October is the earliest they're (not) likely to sort themselves out.  The UK rules are fairly straightforward and will follow from whatever my Canadian documents say so that's why I'm interested, especially as I want to get everything changed in the next few months.  It'd be nice to have a consistent set of documents to travel with as I still travel on my Canadian passport. I know people who had their Ontario BCs changed with BA as that qualified enough as "transsexual surgery" but I'd rather avoid that.

[eli77]

@Sarah7- how did you get your passport changed without a changed BC? Was that under "planning to have SRS within a year" clause?

That clause had already been removed when I got my passport changed. You now just have to sign a form that says "I am aware that my passport and birth certificate won't match but I'm okay with that, and I won't hold Passport Canada responsible for any hassles I get resulting from this." And then they are supposed to give you a 2 year passport. But they gave me a 5 year passport. I don't know why. I guess they got confused. Or the rules have changed and they haven't told anyone.

Regardless, yes it's very possible (and very easy) to change your Canadian passport without a changed birth certificate.

[ShawnaB]

That clause had already been removed when I got my passport changed. You now just have to sign a form that says "I am aware that my passport and birth certificate won't match but I'm okay with that, and I won't hold Passport Canada responsible for any hassles I get resulting from this." And then they are supposed to give you a 2 year passport. But they gave me a 5 year passport. I don't know why. I guess they got confused. Or the rules have changed and they haven't told anyone.

Interesting. Thanks!

I started hunting around and can't find that form you mentioned. I did find that Canada is working on it's ICOA compliance (or more likely faffing about) to adopt the genderless passports where you can get an X instead of an F or M.  The temporary vs full passport is already being challenged.

From what I can tell there's a fair bit of ambiguity in the law as it's defined in once place and written with enough "may" and conditional terms that it's application partially seems to be luck of the draw. There is no actual legal requirement to provide documented evidence of gender change when requesting the gender marker change. But they "may" ask you for it anyway.

It'll be interesting to see what the consulate in London knows about all of this. 

[rachl]

If anyone needs it, the form you need to have your gender marker updated on your Canadian passport is PPTC 152. You can find a copy on this blog: http://www.metamorpho-sis.com/blog/2012/09/23-canadian-passports-for-trans-persons.html 🔗

You also need a letter from someone (preferably your physician) stating that you're expecting to have SRS in the next year (whether or not it's true). They'll issue a 2yr passport.

[eli77]

Oh, that's awesome. I've been wanting to find that form online forever.

I actually didn't need a letter from anyone with the form, and my GT didn't seem to think it was required. I think that has changed?

[rachl]

Oh, that's awesome. I've been wanting to find that form online forever.

I actually didn't need a letter from anyone with the form, and my GT didn't seem to think it was required. I think that has changed?

They specify that they want a letter, but you've had SRS so clearly it's different. However, they'll want some proof. You can get your birth certificate changed because of the surgery (need a letter from the surgeon), so you 'could' get that done first, and the passport issue is moot: your requested gender would match your new birth certificate. But in either case, you're most welcome: the form isn't available online even though the passport people say it is. Moreover, most passport officers haven't even heard of it.

[eli77]

They specify that they want a letter, but you've had SRS so clearly it's different. However, they'll want some proof. You can get your birth certificate changed because of the surgery (need a letter from the surgeon), so you 'could' get that done first, and the passport issue is moot: your requested gender would match your new birth certificate. But in either case, you're most welcome: the form isn't available online even though the passport people say it is. Moreover, most passport officers haven't even heard of it.

Oh I changed my passport before I did my SRS - just using that form. I wanted an online version because I always want to point people to that form and can't and then I'm sad. Especially because a lot of passport officers haven't heard of it, so it's hard to get a hold of.

[rachl]

Ah, I very clearly misread your post then. 🙂

[ShawnaB]

Thank you!

S.

[ShawnaB]

Back to the passport stuff, the Canadian High Commission in London wants to see a letter/documentation with pptc152 - found that out this morning :-/ 

already have a brand new signed letter from a doctor stating intention to have SRS withing the next twelve months. along with the other patronising gender letters i have, it should be fine. stuff BS if you ask me though.

At least the guy at the passport window though the letter requirement was a piss-take too.

S.

[VIIP]

I wanted to do an update-- despite being over 30 days old..
Fortunately, laws for transgender people have been relaxed in British Columbia and now without surgery you can get your gender market changed on your birth certificate.

british columbia birth certiicate change of gender request
https://www.vs.gov.bc.ca/forms/vsa510p_fill.pdf 🔗

doctors form
https://www.vs.gov.bc.ca/forms/vsa510p_fill.pdf 🔗


Once I had my birth certificate I updated my ohip card, and my passport.

Ontario has also just updated its rules, and now anyone who has a doctors letter, and a  personal written letter is able to change gender on health card- birth certificate is done by issuing province.

Thank you to 2014 for making  this possible.

[Devlyn]

Nice of you to update everyone!

Hugs, Devlyn