Epress.am News from Armenia
People will be able to choose what gender they want to be listed as on new Australian passports, even if they have not undergone a sex change.
In the past, Australians could only change their gender on their passports if they had had a sex change operation or were travelling to get one, reports the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Now the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has introduced new guidelines so that instead of surgery, all that is needed is a letter of support from a medical practitioner.
The changes mean Australians can identify their sex of choice and select Male, Female or X.
Labor Senator Louise Pratt says international travel can be downright dangerous for people whose appearance does not match the gender listed on their passport.
“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 said.
“It’s very distressing, highly inconvenient and frankly sometimes dangerous.”
Senator Pratt is the first member of Federal Parliament to have a transgendered partner, who was born female but has transitioned to male.
“This is really pleasing for people like him. It now means we can travel overseas without any problems.”