Trans parents call for recognition on their children's birth certificates

When Harley Viescosaw that it still said "father" next to their name on their children's birth certificate, their jaw dropped.

The emotional process of coming out along with having to change their legal name and gender designation was hard enough, said Viesco,a transgender parent who goes by the pronoun "they."

But the fact Viescowasn't able to have the same legal recognition as non-transgender parents was discouraging, they said in a speech Sunday afternoon at a march and picnic near Montreal's Gay Village.

Viescocalled for the provincial government to allow transparents to changethe label "mother" or "father" on their children's birth certificates.

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"Do I look like I want to be called 'father?'" Viesco, a spokesperson for the march,said. "No."

Recognition and peace of mind

About 300 people participated in Sunday's march, organized by the Montreal-based collective Gender Euphoria, which advocates for the rights oftranspeople.

Viesco and other transparentsand advocates at the march said it's not only recognition they yearn for, but also for their childrento have peace of mind.

They argued the inability to change the label "mother" or "father" on a birth certificatecould out transparents to strangers, leading to potential discrimination toward both them and their kids.

"Especially now that we're out more in the public eye, there's bigger backlash [and more]violence. Hate has risen," Viescotold Radio-Canada.

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Before the courts

The march took place asConcordia University's Centre for Gender Advocacy is suing the Quebec government, arguingthe birth certificate limitation, among others, is a violation of human rights.

The trial is expected to begin in January.

Montreal's Pride Festival, celebrating the city's LGBTQ community, is also coming up, starting Aug. 9.

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Viescocalled the birth certificate issue a "legal lapse."

"We go through all these steps and then we get to this one, which at the moment is immutable and just really doesn't correspond to who we are," they said.