A birth certificate is something that is assigned to someone at birth, identifying who he or she is. If they were born a female, the certificate says female, and the same goes for a male. Birth certificates are used for the entirety of someone’s lives. What happens when someone’s birth certificate says they are a female, but they identify as a male, or they don’t identify with a gender at all?

You probably don’t think that a birth certificate is important once you're an adult but, in reality, you couldn’t be more wrong. While you may be able to go about your everyday life just fine without a birth certificate, there are certain times when obtaining a birth certificate is necessary.

If you didn’t get a birth certificate when you were born, you’ll need to get one before securing a job, ordering a passport, or even opening up a bank account. Not having your birth certificate can delay you from enjoying your life and may even keep you from accessing important services.