Irish Parliament passes Gender Recognition Bill
By Kevin Long
Yesterday (July 15), the Irish Parliament successfully passed the Gender Recognition Bill which will serve as the country’s formal recognition of its trans citizens. It is the 4th country in the world to pass gender recognition legislation based on self-determination.
The new law will allow transgender people to change the gender on their passport and birth certificate.
The bill was headed by Dr. Lydia Foy, a trans woman who has engaged in a twenty-two year battle with the Irish government to secure the right to self-declare her gender on legal documents without a need for third-party validation or medical authority.
“This is a historic moment for the trans community in Ireland. Today is the first day we will be seen as who we truly are,” said Transgender Equality Network Ireland’s (TENI) chair Sara R. Philips.
Speaking to TENI, Sam Blanckensee, a 21-year-old trans guy, had this to say: “Today marks the start of the rest of my life; I am having my deepest childhood dream realised. No legislative change could ever happen in the future that could affect me more than the one that was passed. Today my identity has been finally recognised as authentic by the state.”
While it marks a huge stepping stone for trans recognition, some are concerned that its stipulation regarding age – those aged 16 and 17 require a court order to obtain legal recognition of their gender – is in need of challenge.
“This is an onerous process that does not meet the standard of being quick, transparent and accessible,” said Amnesty’s Colm O’Gorman.
Nonetheless, it serves as another progressive victory for the Republic of Ireland which, just under two months ago, became the first country in the world to pass same-sex marriage by referendum. The Gender Recognition Bill is set to be signed by President Michael D. Higgins within the next seven days.