Birth cert error leaves couple fearing child will be mistaken as trans

by · Mail Online

A young couple fear that their newborn daughter will be forced to grow up under the wrong sex after a bizarre registrar office error saw her sex mistakenly listed as male.

First-time parents Grace Bingham, 20, and her partner Ewan Murray, 21, were ecstatic to welcome baby Lilah into the world on October 8.

However, the initial elation has been replaced with the anxiety and worry that their daughter will be considered as transgender as they struggle to have authorities rectify the birth certificate error.

In the whirlwind weeks adjusting to life as new parents following Lilah's arrival, the young couple didn't pick up on the error until five weeks after her birth.

Grace has admitted to reviewing the document at the time it was signed but puts overlooking the error down to lack of sleep.

Now, after weeks of trying to get the mistake corrected, the couple have been unable to amend Lilah's records despite getting in touch with national registration chiefs.

Who actually made the error remains a mystery, with Grace and Ewan still attempting to get to the bottom of things.

The ordeal has left Grace in a state of anguish having not being able to 'stop cyring since'. 

First-time parents Grace Bingham, 20, and her partner Ewan Murray, 21, are worried that newborn baby daughter Lilah will be mistaken as transgender after a bizarre birth cert error
A Nottinghamshire Register Office error saw baby Lilah listed as male when she is biologically female. The couple's attempts to fix the mistake have so far been in vain

'As first-time parents, we were very excited and, admittedly, a bit overwhelmed - especially due to the lack of sleep', remarked Grace.

'We focused on ensuring that all the names were spelled correctly and didn't expect such a professional error to happen.

'At the moment our newborn daughter is a male according to the government. I don't have a son, I have a daughter', the exasperated mother shared.

Grace says she now fears for issues baby Lilah may face later on in life if the error is not resolved. 

'It's unfair for her birth certificate to say male, which could negatively impact her in various aspects of life, such as school, jobs, and relationships - due to a mistake that is not her fault.

'We feel wronged by the system regarding this error, and the only way to properly address it seems to be by bringing it to parliament's attention.

'What will happen when she applies for a passport, or a job and gets married', Grace questioned.

The entire ordeal has left the new mother feeling 'devastated', with Grace believing that the system has already failed her daughter after just one month.

Ewan and Grace fear for the implications on Lilah's upbringing should they fail to have their daughter's birth cert changed
The couple didn't notice the error until five weeks after Lilah was born and there attempts to fix the mistake have so far proved unsuccessful
Lilah's father, Ewan, who works at Tesco, has also shared how the family are not in search of 'their 15 minutes of fame', but rather just want to see the mistake fixed

Initially, Grace and Ewan were told by the Sutton-in-Ashfield Registration Office in Nottinghamshire that they would just need to pay £99 to rectify the mistake.

However, even in this instance, baby Lilah's birth certificate would still contain an asterisk noting that her sex was 'changed' to female.

The couple have been attempting to have follow up meetings with the Nottingham shire Register Offices and the nation's General Register Office but have so far proved unsuccessful in their quest, leaving Grace gravely concerned.

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Lilah's father, Ewan, who works at Tesco, has also shared how the family are not in search of 'their 15 minutes of fame', but rather just want to see the mistake fixed.

'People seem to think that it's a really easy correction but it's actually impossible to get it changed', Ewan said.

The couple also revealed that another woman who last year experienced the same issue has gotten in touch since they went public with their efforts to rectify the mistake. 

'She has been able to go back and correct this but we haven't had this option. The registry office changed her birth certificate. If it can be changed for one, why not for us?'

Additionally, the family have gotten in touch with Ashfield MP Lee Anderson for assistance, who has promised to raise the issue with the Minister for Children.

Mark Walker, service director for place and communities at Nottinghamshire County Council, said: 'We are very sorry for any distress caused by this error and will pay for the correction fee.

'We are working with the family to put this right and will continue to support them throughout this process.'