Victorian Government introduces history-making bill for trans people
THE Victorian Government has introduced a bill that will allow trans and gender diverse people to change the sex on their birth certificate without having undergone sex reassignment surgery.
It will also remove the 鈥渇orced trans divorce鈥� process, which had previously forced trans people to divorce their partners to ensure they weren鈥檛 remaining in an illegal same-sex marriage.
Previously, legislation required trans and gender diverse people to have undergone the costly and intensive sex reassignment surgery before being able to apply for a change in their birth certificate.
The new bill will make it far simpler for a trans person to alter their birth certificate as a means to reflect their true gender identity.
Premier Daniel Andrews said the bill shows once again that in Victoria, equality is non-negotiable,
鈥淭his is more than just a piece of paper to a lot of people,鈥� he said.
鈥淭his is about removing legal barriers and making life a lot more convenient and comfortable.
鈥淓verybody has the right to be who they are鈥� and there鈥檚 no reason that shouldn鈥檛 be reflected on someone鈥檚 birth certificate.鈥�
For everyone, everywhere, every time 鈥� equality is not negotiable.
— Dan Andrews (@DanielAndrewsMP)
馃帀 YES VIC 馃帀
Transgender people can soon alter the sex on their birth cert w/o surgery:
— PEDESTRIAN.TV (@pedestriandaily)
The changes will allow a person to nominate the sex descriptor on their birth certificate as male, female, or they鈥檒l be able to specify a gender diverse or non-binary descriptor.
A trans or gender diverse child鈥檚 parent will also be able to apply for the change with the child鈥檚 consent, if the child is under 16 years of age.
If an alteration needs to be made to a child鈥檚 certificate, the application will need to be accompanied by a supporting statement from a doctor or psychologist affirming the child has the capacity to consent.
This is disappointing news as you can’t change reality. If you want to change sex and more power to you then you need to have transition no if or buts…. A man biologically can’t be a WOMAN!
This is long overdue. The bill might face a tough time in the upper house though – if it is opposed by the LNP. I really hope this bill passes. South Australia also has a similar bill pending in the lower house as well! Well done Victoria in taking a bold step in the right direction.
The ACT already has the first laws within Australia that allow gender changes without surgery a couple of years ago.