Calls for urgency on gender law reforms amid dismay from conservatives

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor has called for urgency in bringing the gender law amendments back to the Lower House.

GREENS leader Cassy O’Connor has called for urgency in bringing proposed gender law amendments back to the Lower House.

The state’s Legislative Council passed the changes by a vote of 8 to 6 on Thursday night. The timing of when the Bill returns to the Lower House for possible approval will be decided by the Government.

GENDER LAWS A WIN FOR ‘EQUALITY AND INCLUSION’

Ms O’Connor said Attorney-General Elise Archer should commit to debating the Upper House amendments next week.

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

“This Bill was originally intended to be dealt with last November, and the Liberals’ ideologically driven delays left already vulnerable trans-Tasmanians in limbo for months,” she said.

“Every day this continues without conclusion, anxiety and pain created by the often transphobic public debate places more vulnerable transgender Tasmanians, particularly young people, at risk.”

A government spokeswoman said “we will follow the usual parliamentary process”.

Opponents to the changes have expressed their concerns at the progress of the Bill.

The Australian Christian Lobby called on the Government to insist the Tasmanian Law Reform Institute be given time to report on the Bill before a vote in the Lower House.

“People could be dragged before tribunals for causing unintentional offence to trans people, by misgendering them — that is a new threshold in compelled speech, never before seen on Australian shores,” acting state director Dan Flynn said.

Tasmanian Coalition for Kids spokesman Ben Smith said the group was “dismayed” by the Bill passing in the Upper House.

“We have said from the outset that we don’t oppose improving the law for trans-identifying people,” he said.

“The problem with these changes is they don’t just affect trans people, they effect the entire community and will have many unintended consequences.”

The legislation would give people the choice to remove gender markers from birth certificates. It would also prevent hate speech and offensive language against gender identity and intersex status.

The requirement for married transgender partners to divorce before they can change the gender on their birth certificate would also be removed.

The legislation would also remove the requirement for surgery before gender on birth certificates can be amended and instead would allow self-identification on birth certificates through a declaration.

Originally published as Calls for urgency on gender law reforms amid dismay from conservatives