When Self-Description Trumps Reality
We owe Andrej Peji ć a debt of gratitude. He has expressed perhaps as succinctly as possible the political end game in the battle over sexual identity. Peji ć, who was born in Bosnia-Herzegovina and later emigrated to Australia, first made a name for himself as an androgynous male model. Describing himself as “living between genders,” he has at times appeared on the runway in both men’s and women’s clothing in the same show . In 2014, he underwent “sex reassignment surgery” and changed his name from Andrej to Andreja. In a public statement following his surgery, he said, “To be perceived as what you say you are is a basic human right.” This concise statement is a perfect summary of the goal of the “transgender” movement. But it’s a troubling statement for several reasons, not the least of which is the fact that it is the business of governments to protect and defend basic human rights. [1] If Peji ć has a right to be perceived as a woman, what legal obligations does this i...