Australians can now choose preferred gender on birth certificates without undergoing sex reassignment surgery
Victoria has become the fifth state in Australia to allow adults to change the gender listed on their birth certificate without undergoing reassignment surgery. Children too will now be able to officially change their gender with permission from their parents and a statement supporting their application from a doctor or psychologist.
The Victorian Upper House passed the birth certificate bill 26-14 on Tuesday night, August 27, and the bill will officially become law once it receives the royal assent. Under the changes to the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act, people can self-nominate the sex listed as male, female or any other gender diverse or non-binary descriptor of their choice. However, the Registrar of Births, Deaths, and Marriages can refuse to register a descriptor that is obscene, offensive or “not reasonably established as a sex descriptor”, the Australian reported.
The preceding law in Victoria had made it mandatory for people to undergo sex reassignment surgery before being able to change their birth certificates. Tasmania, Northern Territory, South Australia, and the Australian Capital Territory have all passed similar bills.
After the latest legislative achievement, gender activists are extremely delighted. Joe Ball, the chief executive of support service Switchboard Victoria, said the bill meant Victorians would no longer face uncomfortable conversations when applying for driver’s licenses, enrolling in school or starting a bank account.
“I see it as equality. It’s just about people being equal and that’s just how people will experience it. “Rather than feeling like they’re second-class citizens or less than human … this will create equality for people,” Ball was quoted as saying by the Australian.
The development comes after politicians backed the changes, with activists arguing that many people were deterred from having these operations because they are expensive.
"These important new laws are about ensuring everyone can live their life as they choose, and that includes having a birth certificate that reflects their true identity,” Attorney-General Jill Hennessy was quoted as saying by The Age.
"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."
He added that the reforms were overdue after the government failed to see them passed through parliament the first time in 2016.