SHANE Rattenbury has announced changes to legislation to increase options for recognition of a range of diverse families and individuals in the ACT.

Recognised details certificates, which set out personal information including gender will now be available to Canberra residents,” Shane said.

“The details certificate will allow intersex, transgender and gender diverse people residing in the ACT, who were not born here, to have their gender identity officially recognised in the same way as those people who were born in the ACT.

“Identifying as one gender and being documented as another can be devastating for an individual and can have a negative impact on an individual and their family. In 2014 the ACT Government took steps to stop this happening for people who were born within the ACT. We are pleased to now be resolving this situation for all ACT residents.

“Additionally, parents will now have a greater choice as to how they are referenced on their child’s birth certificate –as either mother, father, parent one or parent two.

“This is an important change and, while it won’t change the process for many parents, it ensures that all parents can have equal recognition on their child’s birth certificate.

“These changes provide more options for diverse families to better reflect their circumstances and recognises that the words ‘mother’ or ‘father’ are no longer always the most appropriate terminology to describe parenting roles and identities.

“The changes through the Justice Legislation Amendment Bill build on the ‘best practice’ framework for gender recognition that exists in the ACT,” Mr Rattenbury said

Further changes include:

• allow for recognition of interstate parentage orders;
• provide flexibility in documenting name changes; and
• allow for proof of identity cards. This will assist people who do not have other forms of identity and where a proof of age card is not appropriate.