Teens Can Now Officially Change Their Genders Without Parental Consent In Tasmania

Sep 06, 2019 by apost team

Tasmania just made gender an option on birth certificates. The controversial change that was passed in April but has just now come into effect enables individuals to change the gender on their birth certificate without having to undergo surgery.

Before this law was passed, people who wished to have their gender legally recognized had to undergo sexual reassignment surgery. However, this new reform changes that. The new legislation also allows people aged 16 years or older to apply to change their gender without having parental consent. 

The law also seeks to protect the rights of citizens and individuals who want to express their gender without discrimination. Martine Delaney from Transforming Tasmania told ABC Australia,

"It's been something that's taken so long and it's been such a struggle over the past 12 months, with the Government not at all supporting us, but we've got there," she said.

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Liberal speaker Sue Hickey said to ABC that the passing of this bill is an “historic occasion.” However, other Christian Lobbyists are hoping that the Tasmanian Government would be open to a repeal of the legislation.

The Catholic Church-backed Tasmanian Coalition for Kids, Ben Smith, believes the legislation will easily be repealed once negative impacts occur. He said to the news station,

“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," Smith said.

Liberal speaker Sue Hickey continued to explain as cited by ABC why the bill is important for the transgender community.

“I believe wholeheartedly that this Bill removes the discrimination of the transgender community and the only unintended consequence would be that a failure to pass this legislation would result in more psychological damage to the transgender community and their families,” she said, adding, "This is not a win for any particular political party, rather it grants dignity to the transgender community."

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