M.T. v. J.T.
M.T. v J.T., 140 N.J. 77, 355 A.2d 204, 205 (NJ Super. Ct. 1976), is a 1976 New Jersey Superior Court case which affirmed the validity of a marriage of a trans woman to a man, and in particular legally recognized the woman's post-operative gender of the plaintiff. This case is considered to be the first legal case which specifically addresses transsexual marriage.[1][2][3]
M.T. v. J.T. | |
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Court | New Jersey Superior Court (Appellate Division) |
Full case name | M.T., PLAINTIFF-RESPONDENT, v. J.T., DEFENDANT-APPELLANT. |
Decided | March 22, 1976 |
Court membership | |
Judges sitting | Alan B. Handler, Carton, Crahay |
Case opinions | |
Decision by | Alan B. Handler |
Keywords | |
In 1972, M.T. filed the lawsuit claiming spousal support after her husband of two years, J.T., abandoned her and ceased providing financial support.[4] A three-judge panel of the Superior Court's Appellate Division affirmed the holding of the lower court that M.T. was female for the purposes of New Jersey law at the time of the marriage, and therefore the marriage was valid, and that M.T. was entitled to support.[5] This opinion based its reasoning in part on the fact that M.T. had undergone sexual reassignment surgery.[6] The court considered, but rejected, the arguments of the earlier English case Corbett v Corbett, which had ruled that English marriage laws follow birth sex.[7][8][9]
See also
References
- Golash, Deirdre (2010-07-26). Freedom of Expression in a Diverse World. Springer. pp. 196–. ISBN 9789048189984. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
- Barclay, Scott; Bernstein, Mary; Marshall, Anna-Maria (2009-09-01). Queer Mobilizations: Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered Activists Confront the Law. NYU Press. pp. 200–. ISBN 9780814791301. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
- Browell, Douglas K. (1976–1977). "M.T. v. J.T.: An Enlightened Perspective on Transsexualism". Capital University Law Review. 6: 403.
- Family Law: Keyed to Areen. Aspen Publishers Online. 2007-01-23. pp. 20–. ISBN 9780735561601.
- Meyerowitz, Joanne Jay (2002). How sex changed: a history of transsexuality in the United States. Harvard University Press. pp. 251–. ISBN 9780674009257. Retrieved 17 November 2012.
- Thomson, J M (1980). "Transsexualism: a legal perspective". Journal of Medical Ethics. 6 (2): 92–97. doi:10.1136/jme.6.2.92. ISSN 0306-6800. PMC 1154808. PMID 7420377.
- Barclay, Scott; Bernstein, Mary; Marshall, Anna-Maria (2009-09-01). Queer Mobilizations: Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered Activists Confront the Law. NYU Press. pp. 190–. ISBN 9780814791301. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
- Kok, Lee Peng; Cheang, Molly; Chee, Kuan Tsee (1994). Mental Disorders and the Law. NUS Press. pp. 291–. ISBN 9789971691882. Retrieved 18 November 2012.
- Greenberg, Julie A. (December 2011). Intersexuality and the Law: Why Sex Matters. NYU Press. pp. 58–. ISBN 9780814738610. Retrieved 18 November 2012.