Lilie's parents had obtained a first victory, her mistress having accepted that she be called by the first name she chose. Unfortunately, their request for an official first name change in the civil status registers has just been refused.
At only 8 years old, Lilie has touched a lot of people throughout her story. Assigned a boy at birth, she struggles, with the support of her parents Chrystelle and Guillaume, to be recognized as a girl. This Aubignan family, in the Vaucluse, even got them to be called Lilie in class by their 5th grade teacher and their classmates.
In order for Lilie to be recognized as her official first name in the eyes of the state, Chrystelle and Guillaume have taken steps to change their first names in the civil status registers, relying on article 61 of the Civil Code which indicates that "any person who has a legitimate interest may request a change of name".
But according to RMC, this request was refused to them by the registrar in a letter received by Lilie's parents. A difficult decision for the girl."I was surprised" she confides to RMC. "She took refuge for a good half an hour in the bathroom, before being accessible again. We fall back into the difficulties of sleeping and eating … But things are getting better", says the mother.
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According to the Carpentras prosecutor, parents cannot request a change of first name until their child has initiated an irreversible change in his or her body from boy to girl.
"For me this is an illegal answer”, Deplores Chrystelle. “What I do not understand is that this law, which could have allowed a change of first name, which is very clear and very simple, makes it possible to bring the first name used into conformity with the first name of civil status. It can work for anyone, you don't have to be trans to benefit. "
However, according to the law, this condition no longer exists since 2016. "The law modernization of justice (…) allows (…) to obtain this change of sex without the physical modification being irreversible, whereas before it was a requirement", underlines Me Laurence Mayer, lawyer specializing in family law. “The prosecutor added a condition (physical sex modification) that no longer exists. To obtain a change of first name, one must show legitimate interest: it is a valid argument to listen to the distress and discomfort of the child " she says on RMC.
Next Tuesday, the parents will have to give their consent or challenge this decision before the family court judge.