Gender change: 'At least it means I will have a choice now'

For Mark Rees, yesterday's decision was a long-awaited victory in a battle he began 16 years ago.

Mr Rees, who had a gender-change operation in 1971, was the first person from the United Kingdom to take such a case before the European Court of Human Rights but failed.

He said yesterday: "I am obviously delighted at the decision. If it had happened when I went to Europe, I would have been leaping around all over the place but now I am a bit shell-shocked. There is a certain amount of disbelief."

The 59-year-old, who lives outside Tunbridge Wells in Kent and lectures in English and basic education at a local college, admits he still has to put up with taunts from children. But he believes that yesterday's ruling to back the rights of transsexuals for legal recognition signifies a shift in social acceptance.

"Attitudes have changed. Not quite 30 years ago, I remember receiving a letter from the Home Office in which they said something to the effect that permitting us to change our birth certificates would allow us to deceive others as to our true sex. Now they have a working party looking into it."

The former Liberal Democrat councillor continued: "One real difference is that transsexuals don't feel they have to hide away any more, silenced by fear. Together we have made a difference.

"I like to think I was instrumental in kicking it off but I haven't done much in recent years. Those who took it on with strength and purpose have won the battle. They have been absolutely tremendous. All credit to them"

Ironically, Mr Rees, who was mistaken for a boy even when he was a young girl, will lose out financially if he changes his birth certificate to state he is a man.

His insurance premiums will rise and his retirement date would not come for another six years. But that is a price he would be ready to pay for the principle of being recognised as a man.

He took his case to Europe after the Church of England turned down his application to become a priest.

Describing himself as "old fashioned", he also never felt the right to begin a relationship with a woman without any hope of marriage.

While he was convinced yesterday's decision comes too late for him, he was nevertheless grateful for the hope it might offer.

"It will give me the opportunity to begin relationships which I didn't feel I could before because it could not be official in the eyes of the law as well as the church.

"The important thing is that at least I will have a choice."