LONDON - A transsexual who was born a woman but lives as a man yesterday lost his legal battle to be declared the father of four children born to his long-term partner by donor insemination. The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg ruled that the rights of Mr Stephen Whittle, his partner, Sarah, and the children were not violated by the British registrar-general's refusal to register him as the children's father.
The ruling is a blow to transsexuals, who are mounting a campaign on a number of fronts in the British and European courts for equal recognition under the law. The European Commission of Human Rights, which gives an initial opinion on cases before they go to the court, had backed the Whittles' claim by 13 votes to five.