etasman2000 15994 Report post Posted September 15, 2011 Australians have been given a third choice when describing their gender on passport applications, under new guidelines aimed at removing discrimination. Transgender people and those of ambiguous sex will be able to list their gender as indeterminate, which will be shown on passports as an X. People whose gender was different from that of their birth were previously required to have reassignment surgery before they could change their passport to their preferred sex. An Australian senator, Louise Pratt - whose partner was born female and is now identified as a man - said the reform 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," she told Australian radio. "It's very distressing, highly inconvenient and frankly sometimes dangerous." Original article. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nathalie L 112512 Report post Posted September 15, 2011 Here is the Globe and Mail article about the same topic! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ottawaadventurer 5114 Report post Posted September 15, 2011 Wow. There go the stereotypes of Australians being stuck in the 80's. The men may still wear speedos (yes, they do... I witnessed it), but their passport laws are more advanced than ours. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mister T 45020 Report post Posted September 15, 2011 .... And the one from Le Droit. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Phaedrus 209521 Report post Posted September 15, 2011 This is good news. Hopefully other countries will see fit to do the same... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nathalie L 112512 Report post Posted September 16, 2011 This is good news. Hopefully other countries will see fit to do the same... I hope so! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites