GRC & Birth Certifcate

[Ryan]

If/when you get your Gender Recognition Certificate, do you have to change your birth certificate?

[Greg]

I don't know if you have to, but I thought the whole point of getting a GRC was to change your birth certificate?

[rejennyrated]

No - but as has already been said its a pretty pointless exercise to get one if you don't!

Further, since they don't demand that you return all the original certs it is perfectly possible to retain them, and post issue of new certs the old ones are still valid if you have some peculiar reason for wanting to prove that you were once the opposite sex.

Along with my six copies of the new cert, I still have three copies of my original one somewhere in my files.

[Ryan]

I believe I'd need a GRC to change my national insurance details.

I want to be legally male, I just don't want to change my birth certificate. I feel like changing it would be erasing a part of my life. To me, the document would be a lie.

[rejennyrated]

Interesting point of view... although as I said because your original cert is not destroyed it doesn't entirely erase the past. It just prevents nosey so and so's from being able to out you without your cooperation.

[Ryan]

Ah, I see. I assumed that you'd have to send the original one back.

So what does a GRC actually do then? Is there any point besides the birth certificate/national insurance?
I assume that by changing my sex legally I'd be able to marry women?

[Greg]

Wouldn't you need to show your male birth certificate to do that though?

[Ryan]

Oh balls, yeah. It's not something I know about/have thought through.

So what does changing your birth certificate actually entail? What are the other advantages of getting a GRC?

[rejennyrated]

once you get a GRC changing the cert is just a matter of sending a fee for the new one and that is it. (from memory about fifteen quid)

Advantages

1. You can now CHOOSE whether you present your original one or your amended one so you get to control the information - you can use the original and out yourself if you choose, or not as you choose.

2. You can marry a woman (and by extension I can marry a man)

3. You are now entitles to legal protection from being outted because under UK law it is now effectively A CRIMINAL OFFENSE to out someone in possession of a full GRC without their prior written consent.

4. You can change all your other documentation including Degree and A level certs if you need to do so (and they can't refuse you because if they did then effectively they would be outting you without your consent and therefore even organisations that prior to production of a cert have refused you can now have their arms twisted.)

Disadvantages

None that I can think of. No - Seriously - none.

[tekla]

There is always a disadvantage somewhere.  Think harder.

[Greg]

Disadvantages

None that I can think of. No - Seriously - none.

For FtMs pension age changing would be a disadvantage. But by the time we're near pension age that could have all changed anyway.

[rejennyrated]

Look I'm 50

My retirement age is already equalised at 65.

my partner who is already over 60 got hers at 60 - but by 2020 the retirement age rises to 66 for both SEXES.

So no. Actually that isn't the case unless you are already over 55.

[Lewis]

I'm under the impression that you can't get the gender marker changed on your passport without the GRC. Although I do know someone who managed to blag it without having one.

[lilacwoman]

Well actually the GRC allowing us to get a new BC does allow older MtFs to retire early and get pension earlier but actually the BC does bring up an as yet untested legal isssue:
Many of us who get the GRC and BC but still haven't had surgery are actually not in need of sexchange surgery!  But instead we are in need of surgery to rectify a 'congenital intersex condition! 
Exactly the same surgery but if the Gov't has given BCs that state Female at birth but we still have male bits then obviously and legally we must be congenitally intersexed.
One MtF is going to use this argument in court very soon.
Post Merge: August 03, 2010, 02:52:16 AM

I'm under the impression that you can't get the gender marker changed on your passport without the GRC. Although I do know someone who managed to blag it without having one.

Just looked at my passport and I got it well before my GRC and BC and it does state Female.
Post Merge: August 03, 2010, 03:58:49 AM
Those transitioners living in a UK area where SRS is restricted can transition the full two years and get the GRC and BC and then use the congenitally intersexed point to force their NHS to get them surgery.
The NHS won't have a leg to stand on as to say they won't provide surgery will mean they are in breach of Human Rights laws as logically if a person has a BC stating female but has male bits (or vice versa) then obviously they cannot live a proper life like all other people whose BCs say F (or M) and surgery must be provided to allow this.
My advice to anyone living in an area where the NHS is trying to restrict SRS is to get the GRC and BC as soon as possible.

[Tay]

You can get your gender marker changed on your passport with just a deed poll and a letter from a gender counsellor/specialist stating that this change is permanent.

[Ryan]

Thanks everyone

[SnailPace]

Just a note:   Depending on where you live, (such as some US states) transsexuals can't always marry someone of the opposite gender even with all of the paperwork filled out, they still count it as "same-sex marriage".  I suppose they don't want homosexuals to find a "loophole".  It's ridiculous but the truth.

[Ryan]

Nah, in the UK we can marry the opposite sex

[Keroppi]

Nah, in the UK we can marry the opposite sex

Yeah, unfortunately we can only marry the opposite sex. Hopefully that would be change sometime sooner than later.

[Jenni P]

Nah, in the UK we can marry the opposite sex

But only after you've got your GRC and changed your birth certificate. 

Jenni