Tasmania has become the first state in Australia to make inclusion of gender legally optional on birth certificates, in what trans activists are calling a 'historic landmark' reform.
Tasmania's Lower House passed the Marriage Amendments Bill after Sue Hickey, a member of the Liberal Party of Australia, sided with the opposition party, allowing for the bill to be debated. The bill also removes the condition that transgender people would require surgery before they would be legally recognised as their gender, as well as allowing people over 16 to apply to change their legal gender without parental consent.
'This is indeed a historic occasion,' Hickey told the press. 'I believe wholeheartedly that the Bill removes the discrimination of the transgender community and the only unintended consequences would be that a failure to pass this legislation would result in more psychological damage to the transgender community and their families. This is not a win for any particular political party, but rather the dignity of the transgender community.'
The Australian government had attempted to block the amendments since last year, stating that the bill had been 'hijacked' by the Labor and Green Parties. Oppositions to the bill also complained that it was 'sloppily drafted, and could have unintended consequences'.
Following the passing of the bill transgender activists and their supporters have said that they are 'over the moon' with the decision.
Cadance Harrington, spokesperson for Tasmanian Families For Transgender Kids said, 'Parents of transgender and gender diverse kids are just happy that our kids will no longer face legal discrimination and will be able to live their lives true to themselves. We are over the moon about these landmark reforms and are deeply grateful to all those politicians who have listened to our stories and supported us along the way.'
'It's been something that's taken so long and it's been such a struggle over the last 12 months, with the Government not at all supporting us, but we've got there.' Martine Delaney from Transforming Tasmania said. She also said that the new legislation would help to save lives.
Despite the celebrations there have been some elements that are already planning to try to repeal the changes.
The Australian Christian Lobby, and The Catholic Church supported Tasmanian Coalition For Kids, have announced that they will be fighting against these changes.
Ben Smith, who works for the Tasmanian Coalition For Kids said, 'We have no doubt that when the broader community becomes aware of the negative impact of these changes that the case for repealing these changes will become overwhelming.'
Tasmania has been considered to have lagged behind on LGBT+ progress in the past, Tasmania did not decriminalise homosexuality until 1997, three years after the rest of Australia.
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