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In a step forward for its transgender residents, Tasmania is set to be the first state in Australia to remove gender from birth certificates.

A bill is to be passed in Tasmania’s lower house next month that would see the gender of a child removed from the details provided on a birth certificate. The proposed changes come as the state’s parliament was due to consider a bill that would remove the requirement for transgender people to divorce their partner if they wished to change their gender marker on official documents.

Not Doing Away With Gender

Martine Delaney, a transgender activist, says the proposed changes will have a hugely positive impact on the community. “It’s not doing away with gender. That information would still be recorded by the registrar and medical records in the hospital,” she told The Australian. “It just simply wouldn’t be displayed on the birth certificate.” For transgender people, the move would see challenges associated with obtaining documents that match their identity significantly reduced.

Opposition to Reform

The proposed bill has faced opposition from the Tasmanian Liberal Government, with Attorney General Elise Archer saying that the Tasmanian people as a whole should be consulted before changes are made to their primary identity document.

“Labor and the Greens need to consult with Tasmanians on their proposed amendments to remove gender from birth certificates. No other State or Territory in Australia has taken the proposed step of removing gender from birth certificates,” she said in a statement.

Groups such as Women Speak Tasmania are concerned the changes would put the rights of transgender people above the rights of others. Bronwyn Williams, a spokesperson for the group, told news.com.au that she was concerned that laws where “biological males can be declared legally female” would impede on women’s rights. “Women’s sex-based rights will be a thing of the past,” she said.

It’s a tricky topic that makes us question just how important it is to have our gender on our birth certificate and whether it is doing more harm than good.

Do you think birth certificates should include gender? Let us know in the comments below. 

 

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  • Stop with the gender leave things the way they are!!

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  • I do strongly believe that gender needs to be on birth certificates. I have bo promlem with children being allowed to play with toys they chose to play with. Or whatever dress up costumes they chose to wear. I totally do not support the gender bender ideas that a child is an “IT” until “IT” decides own gender identity. I also disagree with identity intervention by hormone therapy or surgery for children. I was a Tomboy and played at being a boy, for a brief period during my childhood, I thought boys had a better deal becsuse they did not have to bother with the same puberty issues as girls did. I am so glad I was born in 1950! There are adults who have had parents who have allowed their children gender bendering who later were so traumatised when they realise what was done to them.

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  • No no no. All for the minority. Wouldn’t there be less transgender clanging their birth certificate after a sex change, then there would be people changing them to specify the sex they were born as? Seems either way it goes, someone will be wanting a change, so why not leave it as it is and let the minority change their certificates if and when required

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  • I can’t help but wonder if it would make it harder getting documents later in life. It may confuse children too.

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  • WHY? we are born either male or female. If we wish to change later on then I’m okay with them getting an amended birth certificate then.


    • Exactly! Sex is a physical characteristic – gender now seems to be a social norm.

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  • I don’t agree with this, it’s taking things to far. You are born with a penis or vagina, boy or girl. Your choice as you grow but people are one gender at birth.

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  • Why are they removing it? Because the minority would prefer it? If you would prefer not to complete it, or for it to include a third option, fine. But why remove it? Why??

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  • Yes I do, things are getting too far fetched these days.

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  • I’m not sure on this one either .

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  • When will one realise that one may mutilate their body and dress to the other gender, but one cannot change your biological gender. XX and XY. Sure there is a very small percentage of births where one cannot be identified as either and perhaps this could be the reason for registering as “other’ or “unidentifiable” allowing parents to decide at a later date.

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  • Oh my gosh! I don’t see the point when the gender will still be recorded at the hospital etc. I think transgender people have many more obstacles to worry about other then the word male or female on their birth certificate. And the public should most definitely be informed of any plans to change

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  • Crazy stuff… leave the gender on the birth certificate. Again minority ruling things for the majority.

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  • Things seem to be going a little crazy. Why do we need to remove gender from birth certificates?

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  • I don’t understand why they need to remove gender from birth certificates.

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  • For purposes of identification surely a birth certificate does need gender?


    • Communities do need to be consulted and such changes surely need to be nationwide?

    Reply

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