WEDDING BANNED

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIV, Issue 20931, 10 January 1938, Page 10

WEDDING BANNED

CLERGY EMPHATIC Clergy and the District Registrar of Waverley were emphatic that they would not marry Mavis Huggins, the New Zealand girl who claims to be a man. to a Bondi girl, to whom she is “engaged.” An authority in the RegistrarGeneral’s Department, however, believes that Miss Huggins could get a Court writ of mandamus to compel a registrar to perform the ceremony, says the Sydney "Daily Telegraph.” Miss Huggins, who is known in Australia as “Peter Alexander,” underwent an operation which, she asserts, has changed her from a woman into a man. She announced her intention to marrying a Bondi girl in her room at St. Kilda Hospital as soon as she could find a minister to officiate. Local churchmen, however, refused to countenance such a marriage. ‘“Marriage’ of Women” "In the sacrament of marirage, the mind, body and spirit are joined between man and woman,” said the Rev A. G. Rix, St. John’s Church of England, Balmain . “This is a ‘marriage’ between two women, and I would refuse to act.” Rev. G. Cowie, Fullerton Memorial Church: I really do not think any Sydney clergy would perform such a marriage. Rev. N. C. Goss, Croydon Congregational Church: I would flatly refuse. I do not think the State would tolerate il either. If Miss Huggins contemplates a civil wedding, her only avenue would be at the District Registrar’s office, at Waverley, the intended bride's district. “I would unhesitatingly refuse to marry them,” said the Registrar (Mrs Orr). “I would immediately ask for the production of a birth certificate, and this would show her to be a female, irrespective of medical evidence.” Legal View "If Miss Huggins can get medical evidence to say she is more male than female, I can’t see how the registrar can refuse the ceremony,” said an authority in the Registrar-General’s Department. “The law assumes that marriage can take place only between man and woman. In signing only herself as a bachelor on the certificate I cannot sc j that she will be committing any offence.

“By her operation and actions generally she has shown herself to be sincere in her belief that she is a man There is no attempt to defraud the wife, who, in this case, is quite aware of the position.” Miss Huggins said: “There has beer so much trouble that Lil and I hav< decided to put the wedding off for £ while. “After my second operation I intenc to get certificates and go right ahead. “If the Court will then refuse tc recognise me as a man I will marry and force them to act.”