Parliament has passed new laws to modernise birth certificates to better recognise diverse Queenslanders.
Under the revised legislation, trans and gender-diverse people will no longer be required to undergo sexual reassignment surgery to formally register a change of sex.
To fully support trans and gender-diverse people in their transition, a change of name can also now be made at the same time as an alteration of sex.
For children aged under-16, the laws allow parents or guardians to apply directly to the Registry where particular criteria are met, or for an application to be made through the Children’s Court.
Prior to altering a child’s record, the new laws required an assessment of the child by a developmentally-informed practitioner who had an established, professional relationship with them.
The new law also provides better recognition of same-sex and gender diverse parents. Both parents will be able to be registered as either ‘mother’ or ‘father’ on a child’s birth certificate.
Attorney-General, Yvette D’Ath said the historic Bill belonged to those in the LGBTIQA+ community who, despite facing the brunt of vitriol, discrimination and hate, had chosen to stand up and fight for legal recognition.
“These laws also recognise same-sex and gender diverse parents by acknowledging the undeniable reality that a child can have more than one mother and more than one father,” Ms D’Ath said.
“I want Queensland’s Rainbow Community to know: Your lives matter, your stories matter, and your struggles matter.”
