Page 18 - IAV Digital Magazine #462

iAV - Antelope Valley Digital Magazine
DutchMan, 69, Who“Identifiesas20yrs Younger” Launches Legal Battle to Change Age
A pensioner has begun a legal battle to be recognised as being 20 years younger than his actual age so he can go back to work and achieve greater success with women on Tinder.
Emile Ratelband, 69, argues that if transgender people are allowed to change sex, he should be allowed to change his date of birth because doctors said he has the body of a 45- year-old.
The entrepreneur and self-help guru is suing his local authority after they refused the amend his age on official documents.
Mr Ratelband's case has now gone to a court in the city of Arnhem in the east- ern Dutch province of Gelderland.
The case has caused controversy in his homeland, with the Dutch edi- tion of Vice, a news website, asking, "Is Emile Ratelband
disturbed or acci- dentally extremely woke?"
Mr Ratelband was born on 11th March 1949, but says he feels at least 20 years younger and wants to change his birth date to 11th March 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 gen- der changed on their birth certificate, and in the same spirit there should be room for an age change."
The Dutchman said he is discriminated
against because of his age, and that he encounters prob- lems in society on a daily basis. The court is due to deliv- er a written ruling within four weeks.
He complains that companies are reluctant to hire someone the age of a pensioner as a consultant.
And he says his move would also be good news for the government as he would be renounc- ing his pension until he reaches retire-
ment age again.
The judge said that he had some sym- pathy with Mr Ratelband as peo- ple could now change their gender which would once have been unthink- able.
But the court said there would be practical problems in allowing people to change their birth date, as it would mean legally delet- ing part of their lives.
The judge asked Mr Ratelband about the status of his early years, from 1949 to 1969, if his official birth date was put back.
"For whom did your parents care in those years? Who was that little boy back then?," the judge asked.
The court is due to deliver a written rul- ing within four weeks.
iAV - Antelope Valley Digital Magazine