Britain
— TRANSSEXUAL Elizabeth Bellinger is planning
another marriage ceremony with her husband of 25
years.
The couple announced
their decision after revealing they have dropped a
high-profile legal case against the British
Government.
Mrs Bellinger and her
husband Michael have instructed lawyers to withdraw a
challenge in the European Union's Court of Justice. The
couple were to argue that their union should be
recognised in British law.
Instead, they are to
undergo another marriage ceremony to comply with new
legislation.
Mrs Bellinger, who has
multiple health problems and recently underwent heart
surgery, said: "The case has put a huge strain on my
health and 1 do not want to risk another four or five
years of waiting for our case to be heard in
Strasbourg.
"Maybe now it's time for
someone else to take up our fight.
"I just want to be able
to relax now and enjoy being with my husband and
family."
Mrs Bellinger was born
male but underwent gender realignment surgery before
marrying at a register office in 1981.
British law does not
recognise the marriage, even though the new Gender
Recognition Bill came into force in April.
The legislation is not
retrospective, meaning Mrs Bellinger and other married
transsexuals will have to go through with another
ceremony.
Previous appeals to the
Court of Appeal and House of Lords failed. The couple's
legal representatives were to argue that the Bellingers'
right to family life under the Human Rights Act had been
infringed.
But changes to British
legislation "would make that harder to prove", said Mrs
Bellinger.
"It's a shame but I
cannot fight on indefmitely." she said.
"I want to get my life
back. I love being married and, to me, marriage is for
eternity."
The Bellingers plan to
marry again at a ceremony in Lincoln later this
year.
Family friend Brenda
Smith said the couple have found their ordeal very
difficult.
"It has been a real
strain for Elizabeth and now she just needs to have a
break - but she really appreciates all the support she
has received," she said.
Speaking to the Echo
earlier this month London barrister Ashley Bayston, who
represented the Bellingers at the House of Lords, said
their case may not have come up before the courts "until
2010 or even 2011".
