Monday, 29 October 2012

What's In A Name?

A week or two ago, while idly looking up how one goes about changing their name, I discovered that the age restriction to change without parental permission is 16. Well, I've been of age for about five, almost six months now, so the news hit me rather hard.

All I would need to do is sign up online, for about £10, and have the papers sent to me. Or rather, to my willing friend. Then I need one witness, and it's done. I can show that paper to everybody that needs to see it and my name is legitimately changed to Lorcan.

However.

My parents aren't exactly the most understanding of people, and truth be told I think they'd flip out at me, tell me I'm being rash and not thinking about things properly. They'll be disappointed in me, angry, and though there's fuck all they can do about it, I'd still feel incredibly bad and I don't want to have to regret this decision. At school my teacher said choosing a name is a rite of passage to being who you truly are, and that's so very true. I won't have my choice, my rite of passage, darkened.

For University, I want to be recognised as I am. It's going to be an intricate process, choosing exactly the right moment to change my name so that the place I choose knows who I am. I can't change it and then start signing up because my mail will be sent here, and that could be a problem. But somehow, I'm going to manage it.

It's a tricky life, being a Trans* kid.

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