I think Suzanne Clarke and John Fowl have got this exactly right - we don't generally agonise over titles and what people call themselves. The main issue for most of us is that we 'process fairly'!
Trevor

>>> "Clarke, Suzanne - Data Quality Administrator" <[log in to unmask]> 14/11/02 09:24:31 >>>
Are people not getting a little tied up in the detail here? If an
individual has undergone the lengthy and often traumatic process of getting
a sex change op (or are even going through the process), then the least
people could do is respect the individuals wishes and record their 'new'
sex. Whilst it is very true that a persons sex cannot ever legally change,
are you in a position that really requires that you obtain the legal status
over the individuals preferred status? Why should these people be denied a
title so that it makes your data base legally correct over their right to
ask you to address them in a certain way? Why don't you ask people to
inform you in writing then at least you can prove that your database is
correct to thge individuals wishes.

Su Clarke

-----Original Message-----
From: Hugo Brown [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 14 November 2002 09:21
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: FW: Sex Change


It would be simple if this situation was like the kit car world where people
happily change the birth certificate of their cars.
A Ford Sierra could easily be transformed in to a Pilgrim Bull Dog by simply
informing the DVLA.
An over simplistic notion, However, only two days till the weekend.


-----Original Message-----
From: Tim Bentley [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 14 November 2002 08:47
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Sex Change

I was under the impression that in the UK birth certificates and by
association passports are not changed. I don't know the specific
legislation.
Tim
[log in to unmask] wrote:
> We had a similar situation at our institution. We updated all of our
> records. I am not aware of any law that says a person is always the same
> sex that they were registered at birth.
>
> Matthew
>
>
>
>
> "J.Barrett-Murrer" <[log in to unmask]>@JISCMAIL.AC.UK> on
> 13/11/2002 17:02:17
>
> Please respond to "J.Barrett-Murrer" <[log in to unmask]>
>
> Sent by: This list is for those interested in Data Protection issues
> <[log in to unmask]>
>
>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> cc: (bcc: Matthew Nunn/Finance Service/Southampton Institute)
> Subject: Sex Change
>
>
> We have been contacted by a student who has changed sex and requests that
> they be registered as the new sex on our data base. If we do not change
> this person's sex does that mean our records are not accurate? We can
mail
> this student and not include a title and so avoid a Mr or Ms situation.
My
> understanding was that legally a person is always the sex that they were
> registered at birth. Advice please.
> Janice Barrett-Murrer
> Data-Protection Co-ordinator
> Open University
>
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