Trans man who gave birth loses court battle to be registered as father

A transgender man who has given birth but does not want to be described as "mother" on the child's birth certificate has lost the latest round of a legal battle.

Journalist Freddy McConnell, who is in his early 30s, wants to be registered as "father" or "parent".

He says forcing him to be recorded as the child's "mother" breaches his human right to respect for private and family life.

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Three Court of Appeal judges ruled against him on Wednesday.

Journalist Freddy McConnell, who is in his early 30s, wants to be registered as "father" or "parent".
 (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival)Journalist Freddy McConnell, who is in his early 30s, wants to be registered as "father" or "parent".
 (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival)
Journalist Freddy McConnell, who is in his early 30s, wants to be registered as "father" or "parent". (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival)

They said the issue Mr McConnell had raised involved complicated "interlinked" legislation and any reform of the law is a matter for Parliament.

Mr McConnell mounted an appeal after a judge ruled against him in September, following a High Court trial in London.

Sir Andrew McFarlane, president of the Family Division of the High Court and the most senior family court judge in England and Wales, had concluded that people who had given birth are legally mothers, regardless of their gender, and said there is a "material difference between a person's gender and their status as a parent".

Lord Chief Justice Lord Burnett, the most senior judge in England and Wales, Lady Justice King and Lord Justice Singh upheld Sir Andrew's ruling, after considering arguments at a Court of Appeal hearing in London in March.

Mr McConnell could now ask the Supreme Court to consider his case.

Judges heard that Mr McConnell is a single parent who was born a woman but now lives as a man following surgery.

Mr McConnell was biologically able to get pregnant and give birth but legally became a man when the child was born.

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He wanted to be registered as "father" or "parent" but a registrar told him that the law requires people who give birth to be registered as mothers.

Mr McConnell took legal action against the General Register Office, which administers the registration of births and deaths in England and Wales.

The three appeal judges said any reform of the law is a matter for politicians.

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