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Ex-Marine David Hassan Wins Fight Over 'Female' Birth Certificate

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - Score one for the little guy, not girl!

Ex-Marine David Hassan served the country in Iraq, but couldn't get a passport or other legal documents because of snafu on his birth certificate that he indicated he was female to New York City officials.

"I've been male my whole life," Hassan told CBS 2's Sean Hennessey on Wednesday night.

WCBS 880's Marla Diamond On The Story

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Hassan needed a letter from the hospital where he was born, admitting they made the mistake, before the city could correct the issue.  However, Lenox Hill Hospital initially only gave him a letter saying the birth certificate was "incorrect," but didn't admit fault.

"It's kind of silly thing. Clearly, just, somebody not paying attention," said Peter Madison, the attorney representing Hassan.

Lenox Hill Hospital and the city corrected the error on Thursday with apologies, and the retired Marine and current Ph.D. student at Rutgers University was thrilled.

"It's pretty ridiculous that things had to happen this way. Yeah, seemed like a pretty simple thing, but a couple of different bureaucracies trying to protect themselves, which I understand, but I'm [glad] everything got worked out," he said Thursday.

Now he can finally, at age 30, apply for a New Jersey's driver's license.

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