Transgender man who gave birth to boy loses legal fight to be recognised as father

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A transgender man who does not want to be described as the “mother” of his baby on a birth certificate has lost his legal fight to be recognised as the father.

Freddy McConnell, a multimedia journalist who works for The Guardian, wanted to be registered as father or parent of his child.

A judge on Wednesday ruled against him after analysing argument at a High Court trial in London.

"There is a material difference between a person's gender and their status as a parent," said Sir Andrew McFarlane, president of the Family Division of the High Court, in a ruling.

"Being a 'mother', whilst hitherto always associated with being female, is the status afforded to a person who undergoes the physical and biological process of carrying a pregnancy and giving birth.

"It is now medically and legally possible for an individual, whose gender is recognised in law as male, to become pregnant and give birth to their child.

"Whilst that person's gender is 'male', their parental status, which derives from their biological role in giving birth, is that of 'mother'."

A lawyer who represented Mr McConnell said an appeal was being considered.

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