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Doctors urged not to operate on infants with unclear gender It’s the first question new parents hear: girl or boy? But hundreds of babies are born each year where the gender isn’t clear. Prompt surgery to assign one was once the norm. But gender depends on more than anatomy or hormones. It also seems to stem from the very earliest brain development, researchers said Friday in urging doctors to hold off on the knife until children can determine their own sex. “To discover who or what a child is ... you have to ask them,” Dr. William Reiner of the...

It's the first question new parents hear: girl or boy? But hundreds of babies are born each year where the gender isn't clear. Prompt surgery to assign one was once the norm. But gender depends on more than anatomy or hormones. It also seems to stem from the very earliest brain development, researchers said Friday in urging doctors to hold off on the knife until children can determine their own sex. "To discover who or what a child is ... you have to ask them," Dr. William Reiner of the Oklahoma University Health Science Center told a meeting of the...

A Perth person with no fixed gender says new legislation which would ban all but traditional marriages is unlawful and undemocratic. Prime Minister John Howard says the Government will only recognise marriages between a man and woman. Alexander MacFarlane has both male and female physiology and says the legislation will prevent all intersex people from marrying. Dr MacFarlane has vowed to take the matter to the High Court. "According to the Australian democracy, every citizen has equal right for employment, for education and for respect," Dr MacFarlane said. "John Howard's comments don't reflect that." Mr Howard said yesterday the Government...