Legal Change Of Sex (Press, 8 February 1957)
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Summary: Legal Change Of Sex (Press, 8 February 1957)
On 6 February 1957, it was reported that several men with a strong desire to dress in feminine clothing had been permitted to register as women at the General Register Office in London. This change was confirmed by an official spokesperson and highlighted in the “Daily Express.” These men had not undergone any surgical operations or hormonal treatments but had legally changed their sex and were granted the rights and status of women, despite having male physical characteristics. Similarly, women who felt compelled to live as men were also allowed to change their official records. The process for these legal sex changes was made accessible with a nominal cost of 3 shillings and 9 pence. Medical evidence, in the form of a statutory declaration from a doctor, was required to support the applications for sex change. The doctor needed to determine that the individual was predominantly of the opposite sex, although the specific grounds for this assessment were left to the discretion of the medical professional. Notably, the medical opinions provided were not subject to challenge by any medical panel. This legal change enabled individuals to live authentically as their identified gender without the fear of legal repercussions. The report mentioned that the integrity of the medical profession served as a safeguard against potential misuse of this provision, ensuring that men and women would not change their legal gender for socially unacceptable reasons. The authorities acknowledged that this process had been functioning quietly for some time, positively impacting those involved by alleviating distress and providing peace of mind to many.
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