A transsexual who hit the headlines after getting married in a grand ceremony last year is in the news again for trying to adopt a child.

Zhang Shan (not her real name) has created a storm of controversy as to whether it is appropriate for her and her husband to bring up a child.

The 37-year-old, who had a sex change a year ago saying she was living a lie as a man, has filed an application in Lin'an, in Zhejiang Province.

China's law says couples may adopt children if they are aged 30 or above, are healthy and do not have a history of disease within their family, have "parental ability" and no other child.

Zhang Shan, who works as a maid at a beauty parlour in Lin'an, meets all the criteria. Her family has an income of 2,500 yuan (US$300) a month.

"We will permit Zhang's adoption because her family is qualified with current criteria," said Ma Weijun, chief of the Civil Affairs Section of the Civil Affairs Bureau in Lin'an.

But critics are concerned about the well-being of children living with transsexual parents.

Zhang Ping, head of the Qing Shanhu Lake Welfare House in Lin'an, said he was in a dilemma about Zhang Shan's application.

"She deserves society's sympathy and we should help her fulfill her dream of being a real woman. But we are concerned about children in such families," he said.

Zhang Ping said the well-being of the child must always come first.

There are almost 70 would-be parents waiting to adopt children, although there are no healthy children available in the welfare house now, Zhang Ping said.

But he did say he would give Zhang Shan priority in fostering a child when needed as she and her husband qualify according to the country's Adoption Law.

"I really want to have a kid calling me mum, realizing my lifelong dream of being a good mother," Zhang told China Daily.

Xu Qing, an expert from the Psychology and Behaviour Department of Zhejiang University, said transsexual parents may be unable to provide a family background stable enough to raise an emotionally and mentally healthy child.

Research from abroad suggests the sex change operation can cause mental disorders afterwards. And children may find it hard to cope with inevitable discrimination against their parents when they grow up, Xu said.

In response, Zhang Shan said she and her husband would try their best to give their child a good education and living environment.

"We are not alone. Many other people have gone through what we are going through right now and they have succeeded," she said.

Jin Xing, a famous transsexual choreographer, has adopted three children, Zhang said.

"When my child is old enough I will tell him or her that transsexualism is something 'natural' and should not be subject to social prejudice," said Zhang.

"Many people have difficulty in understanding things that are different, but that does not mean they are right."

Wang Kun, an expert with the Law Institute under the Zhejiang Provincial Academy of Social Sciences, said there is no evidence to suggest children of transsexual families suffer from more problems, are less popular, or have lower self-esteem than children of heterosexual parents.

"According to the Adoption Law, they are entitled to adopt a child," Wang said.

"Good parenting is not influenced by sex or sex-change operations. In fact, discrimination from society could cause more harm to a child."

There is currently no law that clearly states whether it is legal for transsexual people to adopt children.

(China Daily July 7, 2005)