Legal affirmation
Legal affirmation is when a person’s name and gender are changed legally to who they know themselves to be. This is different from the other affirmations of social, medical and surgical. Legal affirmation is confirmation of the child or adult’s legal reality. This step involves a medical doctor writing a letter on behalf of the patient to say that this person has changed their gender. It’s a short three sentence letter that has huge positive ramifications.
When my husband and I decided to change our child’s legal gender, it was a decision that was made after seeing that she identified as a girl for over a few years. This gender and name change would allow her to start at her new school as herself in name and gender and to maintain her privacy in school which can be a huge issue for transgender children.
This letter has to come from a medical doctor who has a responsibility to first do no harm. The doctor is supporting the child and family by writing this letter. This letter does not mean that the child will have any medical or surgical interventions and means that this gender change will be a legal affirmation for who they are which can help protect their privacy.
All of this is an explanation for those physicians that are hesitant about giving this important letter. By the pediatrician not giving this letter, it’s discrimination. If the child needed a prescription for an antibiotic, the doctor would give it. This child needs a letter to help protect them and it causes harm if the doctor refuses to help. This is part of a pediatrician’s responsibility to the patient. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics a doctor’s responsibility extends to this legal support. This is not about medical or surgical issues. This legal affirmation is just a legal. That pediatrician doesn’t have to be an expert in being transgender. This legal gender change can even be reversed if needed in the future and helps protect that child in the present.
We had to change to a different pediatrician who warned us that he’s not an expert on transgender issues. I told him that he didn’t have to be an expert because we have an endocrinologist for the medical side. He understood why we needed this letter and showed compassion for my child. He gave us this letter to support my daughter in being herself and protecting her privacy. I will be forever grateful for his willingness in helping us.
From an article on the American Academy of Pediatricians it says:
Legal Affirmation: Elements of a social affirmation, such as a name and gender marker, become official on legal documents, such as birth certificates, passports, identification cards, school documents, etc. The processes for making these changes depend on state laws and may require specific documentation from pediatric providers.
This is the link:
https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/142/4/e20182162/37381/Ensuring-Comprehensive-Care-and-Support-for