Trans-sexual wife claims right to have family
By Shao Xiaoyi (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-07-07 06:08

There are almost 70 would-be parents waiting to adopt children, although there are no healthy children available in the welfare house now, Zhang Ping said.

But he did say he would give Zhang Shan priority in fostering a child when needed as she and her husband qualify according to the country's Adoption Law.

"I really want to have a kid calling me mum, realizing my lifelong dream of being a good mother," Zhang told China Daily.

Xu Qing, an expert from the Psychology and Behaviour Department of Zhejiang University, said trans-sexual parents may be unable to provide a family background stable enough to raise an emotionally and mentally healthy child.

Research from abroad suggests the sex change operation can cause mental disorders afterwards. And children may find it hard to cope with inevitable discrimination against their parents when they grow up, Xu said.

In response, Zhang Shan said she and her husband would try their best to give their child a good education and living environment.

"We are not alone. Many other people have gone through what we are going through right now and they have succeeded," she said.

Jin Xing, a famous trans-sexual choreographer, has adopted three children, Zhang said.

"When my child is old enough I will tell him or her that trans-sexualism is something 'natural' and should not be subject to social prejudice," said Zhang.

"Many people have difficulty in understanding things that are different, but that does not mean they are right."

Wang Kun, an expert with the Law Institute under the Zhejiang Provincial Academy of Social Sciences, said there is no evidence to suggest children of trans-sexual families suffer from more problems, are less popular, or have lower self-esteem than children of heterosexual parents.

"According to the Adoption Law, they are entitled to adopt a child," Wang said.

"Good parenting is not influenced by sex or sex-change operations. In fact, discrimination from society could cause more harm to a child."

There is currently no law that clearly states whether it is legal for trans-sexual people to adopt children.

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