Bodhi Boele had a simple dying wish. He wanted his gender recognised on his birth certificate, but the teen died disappointed because of proposed law changes that remain before the NSW Parliament.
In a last desperate push before the 18-year-old died, Bodhi’s parents urged the Minns government to pass laws to allow Bodhi, a transgender man, to change his gender on his birth certificate. Bodhi died on May 12 from an unknown genetic degenerative condition.
Bodhi Boele had a bucket list which included swimming with dolphins. But he also had a dying wish.
In the weeks before his death, Bodhi’s mother, Heike Fabig, wrote to Premier Chris Minns and Attorney-General Michael Daley to detail her son’s “dying wish”.
His mother said after years of being a “tomboy”, Bodhi transitioned to male in 2020 and underwent hormone treatment and a double mastectomy. His name was changed on his birth certificate, but not his gender, meaning his death certificate will also not reflect his gender.
Minns will on Thursday deliver a formal apology in parliament to those “who suffered at the hands of laws that criminalised homosexuality”. His colleague Penny Sharpe, leader of the government in the upper house, will also apologise in her chamber.
But LGBTQ groups and advocates insist that while the apology is a major step towards healing, “unfinished business remains”, and anti-discrimination laws must also be changed as a priority.
Sydney MP Alex Greenwich has an equality bill before parliament, which, among other measures, would ensure trans men like Bodhi could change their birth certificates.
“The parliament’s formal apology is a moment of healing for the LGBTIQA+ community and also a timely reminder of the damage caused by a discriminatory legal system,” Greenwich said.
“Discrimination is still inherent in our legal system, leaving LGBTQ students in private schools vulnerable to expulsion and trans people without accurate identity documents needed to get on with their lives.”
A statement signed by a wide-ranging group of LGBTQ advocates also welcomed the apology but urged the parliament to change laws that still allow discrimination against their community.
“As you deliver this historic and gracious apology, we now call on the NSW Parliament to honour the bravery of our rainbow elders and make it better for the next generation. Let’s make 2024 the year that NSW finally removes all the remaining discrimination facing LGBTIQ+ people in our law,” the statement said.
An open letter to the premier, signed by 80 groups, Amnesty International Australia, Pitt Street Uniting Church, Rainbow Labor, Wayside Chapel and the Women’s Electoral Lobby, has also called on the Minns government to pass Greenwich’s equality bill.
Equality Australia chief executive Anna Brown said the apology was long overdue and urged the Minns government to “offer LGBTIQ+ people a future free from discrimination.”
“We must look to make it better for the next generation by removing the remaining discrimination in our laws. It’s time for NSW to catch up with the rest of Australia and ensure all people and families are equal in our state,” Brown said.
She said Bodhi’s story highlighted why changes to the laws were needed.
“Bodhi’s dying wish is a tragic reminder that for trans and gender-diverse people, their birth certificate is much more than a simple piece of paper. It is about their right to exist and be seen for who they are,” Brown said.
“NSW is the last place in Australia that requires people like Bodhi to have surgery on their reproductive organs, that many can’t access or may not want, in order to have ID that accurately reflects their gender.”
A spokesperson for the premier said: “Alex Greenwich’s bill will go through the usual cabinet process. We don’t want to pre-empt that. The government will continue to engage with the member for Sydney in good faith as we have been.”
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