Canada (and the world) experienced a monumental moment in history, in what could be the first case of issuing a genderless ID card to a baby, in the world. Little baby Searyl Alti, was given their first health card by Canadian officials, and under the "gender" category, sits a tiny "U" for unassigned, or undetermined.
Searyl's parent, Kori Doty, believes that doctors shouldn't have the right to assign a baby's gender at birth.
Via Facebook
Kori Doty is a nonbinary transgender person who identifies as neither male nor female. After giving birth to baby Searyl in November, Doty undertook a lengthy battle to keep their child's government documents gender-free.
In an interview with CKNW News, Doty explained, "Were not actually asking to have anyones ID changed against their will. Were just asking to change the structure of how identification, particularly the birth certificate, starts out."
Human rights lawyer, barbara findlay (name intentionally stylized without capital letters), spoke about this huge step forward. In an interview with Buzzfeed News, findlay said that taking gender and sex off of identification documents recognizes "that the state has no business certifying a child's sex at birth. It is something that is private and that might change."
At least two other Canadian provinces, Ontario and Alberta, are now also considering offering a third, nonbinary option on government documents.
Kori Doty / Via facebook.com
"We would prefer they take 'sex' off these documents entirely," findlay said. "A baby's gender identity develops over time, not when a doctor examines its genitals right after birth."
Doty told the CBC that they felt inspired to make sure their child's documents were genderless, because the doctors who delivered them, assigned them an incorrect gender that, "followed me and followed my identification throughout my life."
Doty wants to make sure that their child doesn't go through this, and has the freewill to choose how they identify.
Doty told the CBC, "I'm raising Searyl in such a way that until they have the sense of self and command of vocabulary to tell me who they are, I'm recognizing them as a baby and trying to give them all the love and support to be the most whole person that they can be outside of the restrictions that come with the boy box and the girl box."
Way to go, Doty!
On Wednesday, Cece posted two videos, one of which is very disturbing, to her Facebook regarding an incident she experienced.
While Cece was using the bathroom at school, staff forced their way into the stall she was in.
Again, Cece is 16 years old.
Her post reads:
"SCHOOL OSSEO SEINOR HIGH 🚨
I Guess I Can't Use The Girls Bathroom Just Because I'm Transgender 😔 Share This & MAKE IT GO VIRAL ‼️ I Been Violating By Principal and Admin and Hallmonters
This Was Today 11/28/18 🕚 Ms Smith Had Nothing To Do With This"
One video showed all of the school officials she wanted to publicly name who participated in the incident.
The other showed the actual incident.
Cece's self-recorded video shows her sitting on the toilet with her pants down while a school official uses a makeshift device to reach over the stall to unlock the door.
A spokesperson for Osseo Schools stated:
"Social media posts are significantly misrepresenting the incident and that staff works very hard every day to help ensure an inclusive school where all students feel welcome, respected and safe."
They refused to comment further saying:
"We wish we could provide additional details about this incident but are committed to protecting the student's right to data privacy."
Some reports claim that Cece had previously been told not to use the women's restroom.
However, in 2017 the Minnesota Department of Education (MDOE) ruled in favor of students like Cece.
MDOE guidance states:
"Transgender and gender nonconforming students should be afforded the opportunity to use the restroom of their choice."
People also can not help but note the fact that at age 16, Cece is a minor.
Adults forcing themselves into her stall while she used the bathroom is even more appalling.
Moriah Skai Kiskaden (Facebook)
Ki Ki (Facebook)
Regardless of the unknown circumstances, the internet is outraged over the adult school staff's actions.
Cece's video and story has indeed gone viral. But what happens now remains to be seen.
H/T: Pink News, Facebook, Daily Dot, Bring Me The News