[Greens-Media] FW: MEDIA RELEASE: Greens Lead Transgender Law Reform Across Australia

[Matthew Hilton]

MEDIA RELEASE: Greens Lead Transgender Law Reform Across Australia

16.10.2014

Greens MPs in New South Wales, Tasmania and South Australia have this week spoken to bills in their state parliaments that would remove statutory requirements that a person must be unmarried to register a Change of Sex in state records.

NSW Greens MP Dr Mehreen Faruqi said:

"Married people who undergo a sex affirmation procedure are faced with the cruel dilemma of choosing between having accurate personal identity documentation and divorcing their partner.

"The law, as it currently stands, devalues the relationships of transgender people and puts them in an incredibly difficult position.

"This is a basic human rights issue and for that reason I am hopeful that the Greens bills will find support across the political spectrum.

"Transgender people face discrimination at all levels of society, and hopefully this bill will go some small way in alleviating the prejudice and the stigma.

"I'm optimistic that this reform will be well received, as it really deals with a basic human rights issue. No one should be forced to choose between divorcing the person they love, and living with identity records that do not reflect who they are.

"It's been a real pleasure to work with Alex Greenwich MP, Independent Member for Sydney in the lower house to put this bill forward to solve a very a real issue facing our trans community" Mehreen Faruqi concluded.

Tasmanian Greens MP Nick McKim said:

"This reform is about strengthening the institution of marriage and making it more relevant to more people. Anyone who believes in marriage and in keeping couples together should support this reform.

"Couples facing the gender transition of one partner are already under enough stress without being forced to divorce due to a discriminatory law.

"This reform is based on kindness, acceptance and a fair go, values that most Australians would hold dear.

"No-one should be forced to choose between the official recognition of their marriage, and the official recognition of their gender" Nick Mckim concluded.

South Australian Greens MP Tammy Franks said:

"Couples who are happily married are given a Hobson's choice of legal recognition of the identity or keeping recognition of their relationship.

"It is time our laws recognise the reality of people's lives as love is blind to gender" Tammy Franks concluded.

Media contacts:
Matt Hilton 0423 106 247 (for Mehreen Faruqi)
Debra Rees 03 6212 2226 (for Nick McKim)
Yesha Joshi 0457 549 938 (for Tammy Franks)