Lithuania
— A Lithuanian transsexual has taken Lithuania
to court in Strasbourg for failing to provide a legal
framework for him to complete his sex change.
The 28-year-old man,
identified only as Mr L, was born and registered as
female, but since 1998 has undergone hormone treatment
and breast removal.
His doctors say they will
complete the operation only when legal conditions are
established.
The case at the
European Court of Human Rights claims his rights
were violated.
His lawyers said his
rights had been breached on several grounds, including
respect for private life, the right to marry,
discrimination and the prohibition of degrading
treatment.
Mr L has adopted a Slavic
name to conceal his gender - Lithuanian names are
gender-specific.
But he says he suffers a
vast amount of daily embarrassment because the prefix on
his official documents identifies him as a
woman.
