Feb. 13, 2019
By Yaren Ozbay
Staff Writer
A milestone for the non-binary and transgender community has occurred. On Jan. 1, New York City added a gender neutral option to its birth certificates. On Feb. 1, New Jersey began including this option as well.
Now birth certificates will not just have the standard male and female options. Instead, there will be a “X” option for non-binary and transgender individuals. A doctor’s note is not required for those wishing to change their gender to “X.”
History teacher Ms. Schiraldi, who is also a co-advisor of the Gay Straight Alliance Club, said she supports the additional gender option but does not view it as a transformative moment for the transgender and non-binary community.
“I don’t really see how or why they need to do this because in our country, you can change anything on your birth certificate,” Schiraldi said. “So, I’m not against it. I think it’s fine. The only issue with it is that when you have a child and you know it’s an infant, how would you know if they [want to] have a gender change?”
Schiraldi said she believes it is best for parents to place the child’s biological sex on the birth certificate. She said the child could always revise the birth certificate later on.
Math/special education teacher Mrs. Brennen said she supports New Jersey and New York City’s changes in legislation.
“I would use this option for my own children. However, I think that if parents choose the gender of their child at birth, there should be an easier process for changing that birth certificate once that child is able to advocate for themselves,” Brennen said. “This option would give more freedom and rights to the transgender and non-binary community, and this would be a major milestone for that community.”
Sophomore Lena Elamrani said she believes the “X” option is great for the transgender and non-binary community because gender affects how people express themselves.
“Gender isn’t like what your physically born with. It’s how you as a person identify,” Elamrani said. “I think if you let them interpret themselves, then I think it could be easier for people to find themselves. There wouldn’t be this big struggle to find one’s identity.”
Elamrani said she believes the “X” option is important because it gives individuals more freedom.
“It’s your life. You can do what you want,” said Elamrani.
4 comments
