Kids across the state of Victoria are now allowed to legally change their gender by having the modifications done on their birth certificates.
Victoria has become the fifth Australian state to adopt the rule to permit transgender people to formally change their sex even if they haven’t yet undergone gender reassignment.
The bill was passed with 26 votes against 14 and has given thousands of transgender people the opportunity to become what they want to be.
According to the bill, minors will also be able to change their gender provided that they self-nominate themselves for the sex change, obtain a psychologist’s report, and have the permission from their parents.
“Interstate and international evidence shows that whilst not a large number of people take up these options it’s simply an option that’s there to people. It’s the choice to make sure that identity documents reflect the reality of the life that people live,” Equality Minister Martin Foley said in an interview with 3AW.
Other four states that passed the bill and incorporated the new law include South Australia, Northern Territory, Tasmania, and the Australian Capital Territory, whereas Tasmania was the first to allow changes done to birth certificates.
Speaking of the gender reform in Australia, Attorney-General Jill Hennessy insisted the legislation was already overdue as the same proposals previously failed to come to pass in 2016.
“These overdue reforms will ensure that trans and gender diverse people can have a birth certificate which reflects their true identity. A small thing to many, but it means a world of difference to someone else,” she tweeted.
“The current surgery requirement sends a painful and false message that there is something wrong with being trans or gender diverse that needs to be ‘fixed’ – that’s why we’re removing this cruel and unfair barrier.”
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