NYC Birth Certificates Ask Parents If ‘Woman Giving Birth’ is Female

File under: The Empire on the edge.

Via NyPo.

A city Health Department form for new parents requesting birth certificates asks the “woman giving birth” if she’s male or female.

Along with routine questions — mother’s maiden name, mother’s legal name, mother’s Social Security number — is a gender question that has raised a few eyebrows.
And just in case the inquiry is not clear, the birth-certificate request provides a convenient check box and asks the question in capital letters. “What is your DATE OF BIRTH, current AGE and SEX?” the form asks in the section clearly marked “Mother/Parent (Woman Giving Birth).”

“To be clear, it is possible for a person who has given birth to a child to identify as male,” said Susan Sommer, a lawyer for Lambda Legal, an advocacy group for lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender people.

 -RW