It's a controversial decision...
April 10 2019
Gender is now optional on birth certificates in Tasmania, following a controversial new reform.
The Australian state’s lower house passed the bill on Wednesday afternoon on the casting vote of Liberal Speaker Sue Hickey, who voted against her party.
This new law also removes the requirement for transgender people to have sexual reassignment surgery in order to have a new gender recognised.
In addition, this legislation controversially allows 16-year-olds to change their registered gender via a statutory declaration and they do NOT have to get permission from their parents.
“I congratulate those upper-house members who put people before politics and who stood up for equality and inclusion,” Tasmanian transgender rights activist Martine Delaney said.
“When historians come to write about how Tasmania adopted the best transgender laws in the nation, and the world, they will say the quietest voices spoke the loudest.”
But it doesn't look like the rest of Australia will naturally follow suit with this new law.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison last year slammed the push to remove gender from birth certificates as “ridiculous”.
The government labelled the legislation as “deeply flawed” and lacking in consultation.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE TASMANIA'S DECISION TO MAKE GENDER OPTIONAL ON THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE?
