Tasmania has passed landmark gender reforms in their state parliament today, making gender optional on birth certificates and removing the requirement for trans and gender diverse people to undergo surgery before having their gender recognised.
Liberal MP Sue Hickey crossed the floor in the state’s lower house today, siding with the opposition to bring forward the final debate on the bill. The Liberal government had been seeking to delay debate since the bill passed the Legislative Council in November last year but the combined votes of Hickey, Labor and The Greens forced it through.
“This is indeed an historic occasion,” Hickey told the ABC.
“This is not a win for any particular political party, rather it grants dignity to the transgender community.”
The bill will allow trans and gender diverse people to have their gender recognised without medical intervention, remove the requirement to include gender on a birth certificate and allow people aged 16 and over to legally confirm their gender without parental permission.
Transforming Tasmania spokesperson Martine Delaney says this is a historic day for transgender and gender diverse people, not only in Tasmania but around the world.
“This legislation ranks among the most inclusive and equitable in the world,” Delaney said.
“I thanks all those MPs and members of the community who have contributed to the enactment of these historic new laws.”
Fellow Transforming Tasmania representative Roen Meijers emphasised the important of these reforms for young people.
“Young transgender and gender diverse Tasmanians will grow up in a different world from the one we have known because the law will respect and protect who they are,” Meijers said.
“I am so impressed by those trans and non-binary folk who have bravely told their stories and who have endured the hate campaigns we have seen in recent months.”
“I am confident none of the supposedly dire consequences predicted by the Government will come to pass and that this reform will have nothing but a positive impact.”
OIP Staff
