New passports allow third gender

15 Sep 2011, 5:50 pm   -   Source: AFP
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For those who nominate the indeterminate option,

For those who nominate the indeterminate option, "x" will appear in the gender category in their passport. (Getty)

New passport rules have been brought in which allow travellers to choose 'indeterminate' as their gender, without having to undergo surgery as proof of a sex change.

Australia brought in new passport rules Thursday allowing citizens to nominate their official gender as male, female or indeterminate, without having to undergo surgery as proof of a sex change.
  
Canberra had previously required a person whose gender was different from that of their birth to have reassignment surgery before they could change their passport to their preferred sex, and there was no "indeterminate" option.
  
Attorney-General Robert McClelland said the changes, which come into effect immediately, meant transgendered or intersex people would just need a doctor's letter of support to get a passport in what they considered their true gender.
  
"Most people take for granted the ability to travel freely and without fear of discrimination," McClelland said. "This measure will extend the same freedoms to sex and gender-diverse Australians."
  
For those who nominate the indeterminate option, "x" will appear in the gender category in their passport.
  
Senator Louise Pratt, Australia's first parliamentarian with a transgendered partner -- born female but now a man -- said the change was a huge step forward.
  
"There have been very many cases of people being detained at airports by immigration in foreign countries simply because their passports don't reflect what they look like," Pratt told ABC radio.
  
"It's very distressing, highly inconvenient and frankly sometimes dangerous."
  
The move was welcomed by the transgender and intersex community, who called for Australia's state governments to follow suit by allowing birth certificates to also be altered without the prerequisite of surgery.
  
Pratt said she was pushing for national reform on the issue.

 

Transgender

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Your Comments

Mr

Markus - from Willetton, 2 years ago

Unbelievable. Try getting into Saudi Arabia or Iran or numerous countries I could name. This will endanger travelers foolish enough to think that being PC carries weight anywhere else

Confused

Wag - from Sydney, 2 years ago

what if you consider yourself neither male ,female or ''indeterminate''

You're kidding, right?

Douglas - from Adelaide, 2 years ago

"...simply because their passports don't reflect what they look like" Apparently, Pratt is aptly named.

Sense prevails

Catriona - from Goodwood Island, 2 years ago

Kudos for Australia. At last sense prevails and some dignity and understanding is afforded those who are intersex/transgender. Thank you Australia for becoming more of a developed country in this regard.

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