A 69-year-old pensioner, who says he identifies as a 49-year-old
and appealed to a court to legally change his age, has lost the bid to
do so. Emile Ratelband, 69, said that he felt far younger than his real
age implied on his birth certificate. He also said his age limited his
options on dating app Tinder and also limited his job options. He said
he should be allowed to be 49 again (read here). However a district
court in the Netherlands said this was not possible in a ruling
today. Officials ruled that changing someone's age would affect the
legal responsibilities that come with the passing of time.In
a ruling published online, the court said:The court did not find any
reason in Mr Ratelband’s arguments to create new case law in line with
the statutory provisions on changes to a person’s officially registered
name or gender.Its main reason was that, unlike the situation with
respect to a change in registered name or gender, there are a variety of
rights and duties related to age, such as the right to vote and the
duty to attend school.If Mr Ratelband’s request was allowed, those age
requirements would become meaningless.Mr Ratelband's case had been
referred to a court in the city of Arnhmen in the eastern Dutch provice
of Gelderland.
He
was born on March 11, 1949, but says he feels at least 20 years younger
and wants to change his birth date to March 11, 1969.Mr Ratelband
said:I have done a check-up and what does it show? My biological age is
45 years.When I'm 69, I am limited. If I'm 49, then I can buy a new
house, drive a different car. I can take up more work.When I'm on Tinder
and it say I'm 69, I don't get an answer.When I'm 49, with the face I
have, I will be in a luxurious position.Transgenders can now have their
gender changed on their birth certificate, and in the same spirit there
should be room for an age change.He claims he is discriminated against
because of his age, and that he encounters problems in society on a
daily basis.The judge said that he had some sympathy with Mr Ratelband,
but the court said there would be practical problems in allowing people
to change their birth date as it would mean legally deleting part of
their lives.
