Born as female, registered as male
Published:Saturday | February 29, 2020 | 12:13 AM
THE EDITOR, Madam:
My cousin was born at home during the hurricane of 1933 which devastated South St Elizabeth, destroying every farm and severely damaging the rectory of St Mary’s Anglican Church.
Her mother, in a naming style popular today but unheard of in her day, gave her a Scottish surname as a Christian name. This has been posited as the explanation for the registering official’s decision to change her gender from female to male – creating a nightmare to obtain her birth certificate.
Enter her christening record to the rescue!
She was christened at St David’s Anglican Church at Morningside with the correct gender. We have since learned that there are countless examples of such a rescue by christening records islandwide.
This, however, does not diminish our amazement and gratitude that a nearly century-old record was meticulously archived by a church, complete with the names of her long-deceased godparents, whose descendants are still close family friends.
I would like to publicly recognise the efforts of Shannette Ritchie at the cure office at St Mark’s where the records are stored.
Ms Ritchie provided me with this information within a few hours of our phone conversation. I am still incredulous at the effort and courtesy shown to a complete stranger, not only in finding the record but in receiving the registrar document by courier and having it signed by Rev Olando Gayle.
I certainly wish her all the best and have every confidence that a work ethic and attitude such as hers will ensure a bright future.
Karis Chin-Quee