I'd like to buy the letter "F" for $40

So, Tim and I applied for our passports today. We got our pictures from Walgreens (thanks for the heads up Tiddleywink!) and then headed over to the post office. Everything was in order with Tim's passport application, and when they got to me, I assumed mine would go smoothly as well. BUT NOOOOOOoooooOOOO... My certified birth certificate copy didn't have my gender on it. I'm sure my unisex name doesn't help, but seriously, how many guys do you know that have the middle name "Louise"?

I offered to photo copy my boobs and staple the copy to the application, but the passport lady didn't think it would be a good idea. *Sigh* So, NOW I have to send off for a new birth certificate, (an extra $40 and a week until it gets here) so that I can prove to the powers that be, that I am indeed a woman.

Stupid darn gender! But it did get me thinking... What about transgender or transsexual people? Or hermaphrodites? Do they have to identify with whatever is on their birth certificate? What if the answer isn't clear? Why do I have to be a gender at all? What does international travel have to do with my sex?