In 2007 Mr. Ravisé-Giard, a long-serving member of the French Air Force, transitioned into Delphine Ravisé-Giard and began living as a transwoman. Though the French military promptly changed her documentation to reflect her female identity, a French civil court soon told her she needed to have a full sex change to be legally considered female. Luckily, their ruling got overturned by the Ministry of Justice, but now Delphine’s facing yet another hurdle: a local chief prosecutor who says she needs bigger tits for the French legal system to consider her a real woman.
Luckily, Delphine’s worked for many years with Trans Aide, a French group that offers legal and political assistance transgender individuals. They’re now pressuring the local courts to put France in line with the European Commission on Human Rights’ recognition of transgendered individuals. Namely, that one needn’t have surgery to be considered a woman.
It’s likely that France will eventually come around to its senses, but until it does, Delphine has some smart takes on the absurdity of her shituation:
“Of course, if the state applied the same test to cis [non-trans] women, it would have to redefine the gender of many French women. But of course, this would never happen.”
She added: “What size breasts are required for a change in civil status? Will that breast size be established nationally by the Minister of Justice or will it be up to the personal tastes of individual attorneys?”
By their estimate, small-breasted women like English actress Keira Knightley wouldn’t pass for a woman, making it apparent that the French legal system is not only trans-phobic and classist but also misogynist and completely objectifying. Just like America!
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Mike L.
Loved her response to that nonsense and Qty’s as well 🙂
Tom Harper
I suppose if we take their logic to its conclusion, there are a fair few MEN who would pass this test while many women would NOT. Hilarious.
xrk9854
I say to balance things out we should start measuring penises!
Marlene
This BS ruling is a throwback to the bad old days of the 60s and 70s when male psychologists were the gatekeepers to the final approval for SRS!
You had psychiatrists who required MtFs to quit their current position and get a job for a “traditional” female, not to mention requiring an opposite-sex love interest, and worst of all? One psychiatrist said that if he didn’t get an erection, he would refuse to grant the woman her surgery!!
This is 2010, not 1950, you moronic French twit!
Tina
Again – awesome article. Good intent, but before you can ‘joke’ with us with a title like that, you need to earn our respect. Keep the titles professional…
That said, you guys DID hit the nail on the head – its objectifying, unreasonable and silly…
klara lee
@Tina: Who is the “US” of which you speak?
I hope you include me!
You may be transexual.
I am transracial.
I identify as Asian although I am Icelandic. I am seeking Government support to get the necessary surgeries to alter my facial features, skin tone, breast size and clitoris to match those of an Asian woman. I will not be fully human until my body matches my true identity.
I am certain that you will join me in petitioning the government for help.
Bless you, my sister.
Jadis
@klara lee: Your argument is invalid due to faulty analogy. Nice try though.
jeffree
@klara lee: Please do not confuse being trans-racial with being trans-ethnic.
Race & ethnicity arent the same thing.
Uggg, I hear that clitoral reshaping surgury is very painful. Can’t you skip that part ?
GenderID Empowerment
This is sooo Transphobic, it’s a crime! What about Cis gender women with small breasts?? Double standard here! Trans Feminists are beginning to scream!
And one of the determinations in the first sentence should read “began living as a WOMAN..” not Trans woman, because her identity is as a woman and the “Trans” is really a description for going fro one to the other and should be used to describe her as to her status as a woman physically.
@Jeffree,
As you may know, when an individual is so desperate to be themselves from the inside outward, suicide will come into play if mind and body do not become congruent and any corrective surgical or medical procedure no matter the pain involved, will be not that much of a bother to them…
Jesse Helms
What a freak!
7
@klara lee: Go away, weeaboo.
Delphi Lomeli
I suppose French civil court judges shouldn’t be considered judges unless they “wig” up (if they don’t already) like the brits have a history of doing. Not complaining about wigging up just as always the best defense is a good offense.I wonder if the French civil courts are a man-only institution and if not how did female judges become such if all “real” judges were/are men?
I remember when I first heard about Malcolm X. As soon as he began speaking I knew what his strategy was which history has proven was superbly successful with work still left to complete of course. His militant strategy was based on the adage “the best defense is a good offense.” The black person in the 1960s was experiencing overt, non-subtle, in-your-face comments, treatment, and all forms of disparaging comments, expressions, and behaviors. Need I mention the obvious parallels to our cause? Yes,I know,our history does not include the same frame of reference however racial and gender phobia have had the same fatal consequences. People like Bill Reilly and others who sub-humanize us are stoking the flames fueled by hatred that produce heat tempered by hostility that give comfort to our enemies who target and forfeit our right to earn income, raise a family, and the ultimate civil right of retaining life within our body. Persons who wouldn’t do harm to any animal fell unimpeded, and emboldened to prey on us as transgender hunting season has not yet come to a close. I have lost a job over my legal transition and hope not to lose my life but as with Malcom X. who utilized unconventional methods to combat unconventional hatred toward humans guilty of being born with a sun tan than never fades….it must be understood that just as Americans had enough of British abuse, so too we have our squelch threshold…just like in Stonewall…I mean can you imagine this—-my child even though you are now 18 because you are only 4 ft 1 inch in height you can never be considered an adult—-see the comparison?
noeleena, Loch-head
Hi.
Its a shame that some men have no idear of what its like being a female / woman , if your wired as one then youll know . the so called gate keepers need to wake up & any one else who over sees us.
Because ,they have no idear let alone understand,
what rubbish we have to contend with .
My breasts are well with in thier idear of a full grown woman . yet our daughters are allmost a none event only when she gives birth & is able to feed her kids .
so under this as they say your not a woman if you dont have breasts ,
oh shes a woman of 31 years of age ,& has given birth to, 2 other kids, & one more in 3 weeks so if you read this then wake up these people have not got a clue,
In fact many men have breasts & would be bigger than some women i know . so whats thier answer to that .
We dont have to have breasts to be women,
WE ARE BORN WOMEN,
noeleena, Loch-head .
waimate .
new zealand.
Daniel Villarreal
@GenderID Empowerment: I hear you, but at what point is one a “woman” and at what point is one a “transwoman” (especially when we say that surgery is not a pre-requisite)? When does a biolgically born male become a woman? When they declare it? At birth? When they don sex-typed female clothing or is there another developmental/social signifier?
I’m not splitting hairs hairs or having fun, but at what point is one’s gender decided? At articulation? At birth? Neither?
Tina
Gender’s decided when you meet a stranger and see how they dress, move, talk, or say they’re a man or woman. :p
Its not that hard!
Katie B.
@Jesse Helms: To quote Norman Spinrad: The opprobrium of assholes is a badge of honor.,:
Miss K
True story… and such a sad and disgracefull feeling to be french myself.
Actually, in the occidental world, I think the France is the worst country for transgenders. No laws to protect you at work, for the familly… and if a man wears a skirt you are a perv !!
No way to get a female identity if you are not operated. F*** !
France as been sentenced 2 times by the european court of human rights…
Really, in France we like discussing about lot of things, but not about us…
regards