Trans man denied recognition of fatherhood in Japan

in: http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/trans-man-denied-recognition-fatherhood-japan051112

Despite being official recognized as male, judge rules that trans man cannot be named on his child’s birth certificate



A judge in Japan denied a trans man the right to be registered as the father on his son’s birth certificate at Tokyo Family Court last Wednesday (31 October).

The man had his male gender officially recognized before marrying his wife in 2008 and the husband of a woman who has a child is presumed to be the father in Japan.

Judge Yoshiki Matsutani said his ruling against the father’s wishes was not a violation of the constitution which protects against discrimination, including sex, Japan Daily Press reports.

Matsutani said that the man cannot be the father because he is unable to produce sperm (the child was conceived via sperm donation) and that the father’s name on the child’s birth certificate should remain blank.

The father said he will continue to fight for recognition. ‘I feel I am being discriminated against,’ he said. ‘I will continue to fight so that I can live as a husband and father.’

http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/trans-man-denied-recognition-fatherhood-japan051112