Gender bill excludes under-18s

This week, civil-society organisations and individuals were invited to discuss the Scheme of the Gender Recognition Bill, 2013, with the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection.

While we welcome the Gender Recognition Bill, and the opportunity to discuss these, and other concerns, with the Oireachtas Committee, there are key areas where the human rights of transgender and intersex people are not sufficiently protected.

These areas must be addressed, if this long overdue legislation is to adequately support transgender and intersex people in Ireland.

We are concerned that the current draft of the bill excludes under-18s.

Transgender young people across Ireland have reported that they feel devalued and vulnerable in their schools and we are concerned this situation will be worsened by the blanket exclusion of under-18s from the bill.

We are also concerned that applicants are not allowed to be married or in a civil partnership, and that a doctor’s certificate is needed.

A person’s right to self-determine their own identity must be at the heart of this legislation.

Discrimination against transgender and intersex people is serious and this legislation must challenge that.

We hope both the Oireachtas Committee and the Government will take on board our recommendations and ensure we have new law that protects the human rights of transgender and intersex people.

Colm O’Gorman

Amnesty International Ireland

Dr Carol-Anne O’Brien

BeLonG To Youth Services

Kieran Rose

GLEN

Max Krzyzanowski

LGBT Noise

Broden Giambrone

TENI

Laura Harmon

Union of Students in Ireland