Susan's Place Transgender Resources

I was just finishing reading Leslie Feinberg's "Trans Liberation" where s/he was agonzing about checking off an "M" or an "F" box.

What's your take on all this?

That's easy for me; 95% of the time I present as my legal, non-identified gender.  Hopefully I can change that soon, though.

Val

I've always checked off the F box in legal documents, and I've never got in trouble for it. *shurgs*  My drivers and Birth Certificate still say M, sadly (surgery will fix that), but my government health care card says Female and my SIN (Social Insurance Number) says that I'm also Female (not on the card, sadly, but the records were changed to say Female -- technically not supposed to happen until surgery, but the office didn't know what to do or the rules, so they put down Female as my gender). So, oddly enough, legally I'm seen as both genders, since all of those documents are legal identifying  documents according to the government.

I know a few people who have been able to change their licence. Alberta requires the actual SRS, but if you hit the right office and convince them that the M is a clerical error, they'll fix it for you thinking it's a mistake. Although, technically, that's fraud and you can go to jail for that, but I don't know of any trans person who's gone to jail for it. Also, other provinces, like BC, allow you to change your gender on your licence without surgery, but just a doctors note. Canada Passport also lets you change your gender with a doctors note stating that you are a transexual and living full time as your target gender.

I think if someone did get charged, it wouldn't get too far in court 'cause they'd have to prove that, one, the person changed their gender in order to commit some major fraud scheme. Two, the case for us is that province is completly inconsistently with their gender marker rules (ie, AB health requirements vs Licence requirements -- AB health doesn't require SRS, just a letter.). Third, other provinces have different rules and you can argue that province A has such and such a right, so province B should, and federally the rule are different. So, yeah, it would be a silly case.

I know that there's been talk about challenging the current rules, but I don't know of any one who's actually got people together and a lawyer to do that. They'd also have to prove to the court that the incorrect gender marker makes a significant impact in damages (ie, can't find a job, discrimination, etc, etc). So, for a class action, they'd have to actually gather people and evidence. It's a long process. And also, you'd have to prove that the ID causes the discrimination, and not they way you look, etc. *shrugs*

In my case, despite the wrong gender being on my licence, I haven't any issues because of it.


--natalie

I leave it blank...usually...if I find the strength to grin and bear it, I check the dreaded F. I still mentally stab them when they call me by my legal name or "she"...as I'm standing there, adam's apple, facial hair, looking around like I have no clue who they're addressing...and cringing inside...

I'm ftm btw.

-Jarek

I no longer have any hesitation, I check off female.  All my legal records with the exception of my birth certificate all show that I am female.

The only time it gets a little uncomfortable is when I'm filling out medical information forms and they ask what medications I'm on.  I list everything which includes my hormone regimen, then there is usually a box to describe any other medical condition the doctor may need to know.  I usually put MTF transsexual and leave it at that.

The few times I've had to do that, I've not heard a peep out of them.  It has to do with patient confidentiality and all that HIPPA stuff.

I mention it on the chance that the doctor may have differing diagnostics or procedures for a male bodied woman as opposed to a natal woman.  It's my life and health we're talking about here so I am pretty open about that.

-Sandy

The only time I don't check off my IDG
is when it is for Tax or school loan purposes.
That's it.

Sara

I always check off the "F". The only time it raised an eyebrow was when my new doctor was reviewing my records and noted I'd had a vasectomy. We had a short discussion about the surgery, hormone regimen and I left with no changes to anything. It's just not a big deal to some people.

Karen Lyn

my only gender that also happens to be my legal one.  F

Quote from: Natasha on January 20, 2008, 11:43:09 PM
my only gender that also happens to be my legal one.  F

Ditto!

tink :icon_chick:

The government, while considering my immigration, decided that I am female.  Who am I to dissuade them of that notion?

Wing Walker

Male. No sweat, my legal and identified gender are the same, which I check.

F, because it makes the most sense.

After Mark's intern did all my legal paperwork for my name change he also did some legal snafuing (I know thats not a word) and had my birth certificate changed, fortunately I was born in Hawaii, there requirements are very minimal after that was done all the rest of the stuff (SSA, DL and passport) just fell into place.

I check off my legal gender which is female..

After being in the military for nine years snafuing is indeed a word.  I heard it from my chiefs all the time.  Stands for Situation Normal All F*@#$% Up. :-).

That's funny cause I always think about this. I check F (I'm FTM), just so I don't have to explain anything. When signing up for websites, I always try to leave it blank, but they make you put one in. What's the big deal anyway? Like if you want to be on a website that doesn't involve dating, why would it matter what gender you are?

QuoteI check F (I'm FTM), just so I don't have to explain anything.

ditto.
as for websites- male, always!

Quote from: The_Unforgiven on January 25, 2008, 06:14:24 PM
That's funny cause I always think about this. I check F (I'm FTM), just so I don't have to explain anything. When signing up for websites, I always try to leave it blank, but they make you put one in. What's the big deal anyway? Like if you want to be on a website that doesn't involve dating, why would it matter what gender you are?

targetted advertising/marketing.

That makes sense, but what about websites that only advertise themselves?

Put F unless I know there could be problems down the line.
Like renewing my driving license. Or being admitted in
the hospital.

myself i tend to leave it blank . unless i need to put the make down  and depending on what it is  for .

but when i have to i do check f cuase thats  me . unless its a leagel paper then  ::)