Page 39 - Fyne Times Spring 2014
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when you attend the clinic and will help
when developing a treatment plan.
Official gender recognition
The Gender Recognition Act of 2004
helped to clear up a few of the legal issues
which transgender persons have faced
in the past by formalising the process of
changing gender. Recognition is seen as
an important part of gender change and
happens when a person is ready to be
considered as their second gender for the
rest of their life.
The process involves a tribunal of
experts who will look at all the evidence
presented and decide whether the
appropriate criteria has been met. That
criteria consists of –
Testament that you have lived for
two years as the gender you wish to be
recognised as.
A diagnosis of gender
dysphoria
That you intend to live permanently in
your desired gender.
Surgery will be added as supporting
evidence but it is not a requirement. This
means that official gender recognition
may not happen at the end of your
journey - You may feel at the time of
applying to the panel that surgery is not
required, but later change your mind.
You do not actually have to face the
panel yourself. You will pay a small fee
and send all the evidence you need to the
panel. The GID clinic will help with this.
Your application will then be considered
and either accepted or rejected. If you
are rejected, advice on what further
evidence is needed will be given. If you
are accepted, then a certificate is issued to
mean you are now formally recognised in
your second gender.
Marriage
The area of marriage is a bit of a difficult
one at the moment. As it stands, a
heterosexual marriage must end when
one of the partners undergoes gender
recognition as marriage is not yet legal.
The two partners can then enter a civil
partnership if they wish, but as of 29th
March, the situation will change. A
couple who are already in a marriage
will have to present a declaration of
consent from their partner. This is
another contentious issue as it means a
person’s right to legally change their
gender depends upon the consent of
their partner and only an interim
recognition certificate will be
issued if consent is not given.
If you want to find out more
about the official process, visit
