Name and Sex Change in Ontario Canada

[OpheliaDL]

Alright my Ontarian peers,

I need some help and don't really know who to ask or turn too. I am a Canadian citizen residing in Ontario currently and wanted to get started on getting a name/sex change. There is a problem however, I wasn't born in Ontario. To make matters worse, I was born in an Islamic country which is extremely transphobic (jails/kills LGBTQ+) so, with that, I don't really know what to do from here. In Ontario, they say you must need to be born here for them to change anything, but I know for a fact that the country I was born in will not change my name or gender, as a matter of fact, they would persecute me to the fullest extent of the law. Does anyone have a similar experience or know what I can do in a situation like this? I'm desperate and don't really know what to do.

Thank you

[natalie.ashlyne]

If you go to this website or call the 1800 number they can help

https://www.ontario.ca/page/change-name

[KathyLauren]

Certainly you can change your name.  Anyone can change their name for any reason, as long as there is no criminal intent.

For the gender change, I know that in Nova Scotia there is no provision for changing your gender without first changing your birth certificate.  I believe the situation is the same in the other provinces.

I am in a similar position, though in my case the problem is temporary.  My birth certificate is British, and the Brits won't allow a gender change until you have been living RLE for two years.  So my driver's license says "Kathleen Lauren" but still has a big fat "M" in the sex field.   

For me, it is a temporary embarassment.  I can see that for you, the effect would be permanent, and could affect your safety.

It would be worth investigating other possibilities.  Perhaps a court could be petitioned to order the DMV to change the gender on your driver's license, for example?

[OpheliaDL]

Upon further investigation,

It looks like I CAN change the sex and name on my drivers license, OHIP card and social insurance etc. WITHOUT changing my birth certificate (which is a bit strange for me). I dont mind if my birth certificate has my old name and sex on there, I never look or use the thing anyways. Would there ever be issues if my birth certificate doesn't match my drivers license and other documentation?

[KathyLauren]

Would there ever be issues if my birth certificate doesn't match my drivers license and other documentation?

How many times have you been asked for your birth certificate prior to transition?  It's something that only bureacrats need to see.  If they are cool with changing your documents, go for it.  It's got to be better than what I have!