Transgender Boy Is First Canadian To Get New Birth Certificate

In an historic first, a twelve-year-old Canadian transgender boy was awarded a birth certificate reflecting his gender.

Wren Kauffman lives in Alberta, where the law says a transgender person must have sex reassignment surgery before their birth certificate can be changed. Wren’s parents filed a complaint with the province’s Human Rights Commission, asking that Wren be officially recognized as a boy. A judge sided with the Kauffmans, striking down the law, saying it violated the rights of transgender citizens.

This week, at a Pride Fest luncheon, Wren was presented with a new birth certificate by his city’s mayor. There was just one small change: the document now reads M instead of F. A change that to Wren, is not small at all.

Wren:

    “If you’re not yourself, then it kind of gets sad and depressing. I’m glad that I told everybody.”

Besides Alberta, transgender Canadians have filed similar human rights violation complaints in British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, which are waiting disposition.  TNCRM