Face of Nation : New laws letting trans and gender diverse Victorians choose the sex on their birth certificates means Sage Akouri won’t have to feel unsafe or afraid of going to a doctor.
The changes will come into effect by May next year after passing the upper house on Tuesday night, bringing Victoria into line with other states and territories. The law lets trans people change their birth certificates without having reassignment surgery and also means people won’t be restricted to listing male or female.
For Sage, an Equality Australia spokesperson who identifies as non-binary, it “means no longer having to feel unsafe, or afraid or hesitant of trying to access services”.
Under the new laws, which passed 26 votes to 14, children can apply to change their birth certificates as long as they have parental support and the backing of a doctor or another expert. Victoria will join Tasmania, Northern Territory, South Australia and the ACT in making the change. But the debate surrounding the bill has taken its toll on Sage.
“Listening to these politicians sort of speak about our community and my community like we’re not humans, we’re not people … has been really awful,” they said. Victorian Equality Minister Martin Foley says the change is long overdue.
“It will make sure that gender diverse and trans Victorians have the same rights as everyone else for their foundation identity document to reflect who they are,” he told reporters at parliament on Wednesday. The Liberal-National opposition were against the laws.
