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Original poster

passort office erasing mother and father for parent1/2

99 replies

sydneyc · 07/10/2011 11:00

What do other parents think of the passport office changing all passports to show parent one and two instead of mother and father. When they already recognise same sex couples who adopt, who does this law make it easier for.
I am a proud mother of three and i want my passport and my kids passport to reflect that, not show me as parent 1 i am a mother first .
This change apparently is being brought in from lobbying gay rights group surely this is another step too far?

OP posts:
PeggyCarter · 07/10/2011 11:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

OneHandFlapping · 07/10/2011 11:58

I really don't see how this erodes the family, sydneyc. The use of Parent1 and Parent2 does nothing to detract from anyone with a traditional family, and accommodates same sex parents more comfortably.

Why is is it any of your business?

Original poster
sydneyc · 07/10/2011 11:59

think you are over thinking this one, father and mother are the same, female parent and male parent are the same, yes both are still parents and no one is superior to the other.
Parent 1 or 2 is gender neutral, the changes are a result of gay pressure groups saying that mother and father on a passport is discriminating against same sex couples who adopt but it is not.
Alright why should a very small proportion dictate what everyone else should do ?

OP posts:
meditrina · 07/10/2011 12:01

The passport itself doesn't include the parents' details, it's only on the application form. I agree with nickelbabe that parent1 should be the applicant who is signingbthe form, and parent2 the other. It doesn't bother me whether I'm described as a mother or a parent - I'm both.

VelvetSnowBlush · 07/10/2011 12:01

OP, do you feel that taking the 'mother' tag away on your childs passport would reflect badly on how you actually parent your child?

Assuming the answer is NO, then does it really matter?

Perhaps you should make a badge saying 'Mother' just so that at the check in desk, it's clear who you are Grin

Original poster
sydneyc · 07/10/2011 12:02

it is my business because it affects me and everyone has a right to their point of view.

OP posts:
HandDivedScallopsrgreat · 07/10/2011 12:02

If father and mother are the same then why are you bothered about being called a mother rather than a parent?

OneHandFlapping · 07/10/2011 12:05

"discriminating against same sex couples who adopt but it is not."

Yes it is. Why should same sex couples not have wording that includes them? Why do you think they should be excluded?

They are hardly "dictating" that you change anything about your behaviour. So you get called Parent1 or Parent2 instead of Motheron an official document. Big deal! After all you are a parent.

Original poster
sydneyc · 07/10/2011 12:06

why should a minority of people dictate what the majority do?

OP posts:
Snorbs · 07/10/2011 12:08

sydneyc, is your issue here really one of the choice of wording on a form or is it more to do with the people who asked for it to be changed?

PeggyCarter · 07/10/2011 12:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

midnightexpress · 07/10/2011 12:08

Who cares? It's only a word in a bloody passport ffs. If you turn up at the airport with your DC and a passport that says 'Parent1: Mrs sydneyc' they're hardly likely to be looking at you thinking 'ooooh, is she a lesbian? Or perhaps she's the father?', now are they? Equally, they aren't going to be giving you a round of applause for being a 'proud mother of three'.
I'm afraid that your sense of maternal pride is really not of any relevance to HM Customs.

I'm interested though in what the other 'steps too far' to which you refer in your OP are?

lec0rnsillk · 07/10/2011 12:10

OP - get a job

octopusinabox · 07/10/2011 12:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

post · 07/10/2011 12:11

No! No! I'm not a parent! I'm a mother !
It's a bit like that 'if my toddler had aibu' thread Grin

midnightexpress · 07/10/2011 12:11

I fail to see how it affects you? How does it actually affect you OP?

MarginallyNarkyPuffin · 07/10/2011 12:11

Because how a country treats it's minorities is a measure of it's civilisation?

Because it's something that makes very little difference to the majority but a huge difference to the minority?

Because The Daily Mail doesn't make run the Passport Office?

ShroudOfHamsters · 07/10/2011 12:13

'why should a minority of people dictate what the majority do?'

  • they don't, it's changing a wording so that it includes everyone instead of excluding some. If you have a problem with that - well, you shouldn't.
BertieBotts · 07/10/2011 12:13

Who gives a shit? You are coming across as a bit homophobic, OP, with all this talk about gay rights "going too far", FFS Hmm

Anyone who is bringing up children is a parent. Not all families have mother and father. It's pretty easy to see which is the fairer choice.

VelvetSnowBlush · 07/10/2011 12:15

Bagsy being parent 1 Grin

Ephiny · 07/10/2011 12:16

Wouldn't bother me personally.

If you see yourself as primarily a 'mother' rather than a 'parent', and being a mother is an important part of your identity, than that's absolutely fine. But your passport does not exist for the purpose of bolstering those feelings. Don't see how this makes any difference to you really.

meditrina · 07/10/2011 12:25

Go and look at your DCs passports!

Parents are not included anywhere on the actual passport.

This is only about the wording if the application form.

AMumInScotland · 07/10/2011 12:27

Sorry but your earlier comment "my objection is the erosion of the family, ie mother and father"" makes it clear to me that you do not think same sex couples should be treated as equal to heterosexual couples. You consider them to be a problem.

Changing the wording makes it inclusive. Those of us who think same sex relationships are absolutely fine, and that families with same sex parents are absolutely fine, generally believe that being inclusive to everyone regardless of sexual orientation is a good thing.

Forcing same sex couples to fit in with your neat and tidy views on what is a proper family has nothing to do with protecting parents from an erosion of their rights. Its just plain discrimination.

AMumInScotland · 07/10/2011 12:28

Rats! Wrong emphasis!

"my objection is the erosion of the family, ie mother and father"

gallicgirl · 07/10/2011 12:39

If anything this change extends the sense of family rather than erodes it, by being more inclusive of different types of family.

Yes I'm a mother but I'm also a parent and I don't feel my rights or responsibilities have been altered because someone else, whom I don't know, has chosen to label me in a different way.

You could change the labels to entertainer and food-maker for all I care, it doesn't change MY role in MY family but if it makes other families happier, then great.