It's strange, I've posted over a hundred episodes of stories elsewhere, all fiction of course, but this is neither fiction nor a story, it's about me.
I'm in the process of sorting something I could have done a year or two ago, that is make my legal status comply with my physical. The UK government were forced by the European court to allow transsexuals to change their legal status to their adopted sex. This included changing birth certificates, so enabling greater privacy and even opportunity to marry and probably more relevant in my case as I'm unlikley to marry again, to retire at 60 years instead of 65. At least I could do more of the things I like such as cycling.
So I filled in the forms, I'd had them about eighteen months, did the statutory declaration before a solicitor that I would remain in this role until death, got my doctor to fill in his bit and sent them off.
Strangely, I felt anxious about the forms and had been uptight about filling them in for weeks before I did. I've lived as female for over twenty years and been post op for nearly sixteen. I practice my profession, I'm in health care, and am employed by the NHS as well as running my own practice. So why was I worried? I had to think about it and decided it was because it brought up stuff from twenty odd years ago; funny how memories can haunt you. Also I dislike dealing with officialdom, they can screw up anything.
The forms came back, not enough info. I had to laugh, how much did they want? I called the caseworker I was given and learned what they wanted. My doctor also had to supply all the gruesome details of the surgery. Of course he didn't but I sent off even more stuff.
It came back again, the doctor's report was incomplete. My GP is a lovely bloke and a fellow cyclist, he's a trifle disorganised, but otherwise great. I am going to see him tomorrow and dictate what he has to put on the form. Then, I shall post the bloody thing off again, third time lucky? I hope so.
I cannot believe that the 'tribunal' who make up the gender panel would reject my application and I qualify for the fast track approach having exceeded the requisite six years by fifteen. Then again, who'd have thought it would take three goes to sort out the forms. So watch this space, I'll let you know the outcome.
Angharad.
Comments
Thanks for sharing
Thanks for sharing with us Angharad. As a Southern American (Please not a Yank!) it is sad that this just seems too much like one of those comedies that make it to us from the UK. Like all such things it is not funny at all when it is happening to YOU! Please keep us informed.
Hugs!
grover
She likes to "Yank" your chain
Grover, Angharad and I have had the whole Southerner vs. yank discussion before, she knows better but likes to tease a bit. ;)
When I think of the whole morass of laws in the U.S., things don't look too bad in the U.K. I was offered a chance by relatives to move to Norway some years back for the express purpose of doing my change in a more civilized place, where such things were considered no big deal. I sometimes think I was a damn fool for not taking my aunt up on her offer.
But we all have our governmental quirks to deal with, no matter where we live. Reminds me of the bumper sticker I saw several years ago: "Be Grateful We Don't Get All The Government We Pay For!"
Sister A, keep your chin up but don't lead with it!
L'il Sis,
Karen J.
"A dress makes no sense unless it inspires men to want to take it off you."
Francoise Sagan
“When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn’t become a king. The palace becomes a circus.” - Turkish Proverb
Forms?
Like you, my only experience of 'officialdom' in depth is in Britain, but I suspect the official mind isn't unique and there are examples throughout the world - even the USA. I have a friend who's also post-op, but I'm not sure if she's jumped through the hoops yet.
However, despite all the vagaries of 'jobsworths' I'm sure you'll come through in the end.
I sit typing this wearing my Lycra shorts and training bottoms ready to go out on my bike, so I empathise with your enthusiasm for cycling. Not done too much over the last few years, but mountains call this Summer so a bit more fitness/strength is called for. I seem to recall there was a TS racing in time trials a few years ago - on a trike, in 12s and 24s?
best wishes
Geoff
I Made It!
Your instructions were perfect and I found the blogs with no (well,little) difficulty. Still, the question occurs to me, "Why is it so hard to find in the first place?" Still. I don't design websites so maybe there's a logical reason. [Sigh!]
So GB has changed its policies after the EU told them to. Good for the EU!
And good for you for getting things straightened out.
Talk to you again!
Jenny Grier (Mrs.)
x
Yours from the Great White North,
Jenny Grier (Mrs.)