Woman who had sex change wins legal right to pension at 60

[Butterfly]

Woman who had sex change wins legal right to pension at 60
Guardian UK
By Alexandra Topping
22 June, 2010


http://www.guardian.co.uk/law/2010/jun/22/woman-sex-change-right-pension


A woman who had a sex-change operation 10 years ago has won her battle to receive a pension from the age of 60. Christine Timbrell was born Christopher Timbrell in 1941, but had surgery to change her gender in 2000.

But Revenue & Customs decreed that Timbrell could not claim her pension, because she had not divorced her wife, Joy, and her new gender status was not recognised in law.

Timbrell's sex-change operation was carried out with the knowledge and consent of her wife and they continue to live together as a married couple. The couple, who met when Timbrell was a man in his 20s, have been married for 42 years and have two children.

[wife4ever]

This is the reason I joined this forum. Thank you so much for posting this. I hope that my husband (maybe 'wife to be') and I can have a story as successful as this couple.

wife4ever

[RebeccaFog]

60 is kind of young. Over here you have to work until you're 89 and if you ask for anything, you get a backhand to the mouth.

I live in the unfortunate country north of Texas.

[Arch]

Sounds like their pension laws need to be revised.

[RebeccaFog]

Pretty much every law needs to be revised.

[TheAetherealMeadow]

Why are pension laws even gendered? 

[Chrissty]

This is really good news.

The real value of this ruling is not about a few £'s of pension, but a lot more about the possibility that it may have an effect on the requirement to divorce to get your gender recognised in the UK in subsequent cases. 

Chrissty

[spacial]

Why are pension laws even gendered? 

Originally, because wonem were seen as weaker and more in need of support.

When the feminists were on their rant, it was suggested that the age be equalised for equality reasons. They didn't seem bothered too much with having it lowered for men, but were opposed to it being raised for wome. In the end, it was realised the cost of lowering to equality would be too great.

I'm trying to imagine how the Daily Mail will spin this one.