Certificate of birth debate raises issues

The process of changing gender on birth certificates looks set to become simpler and more accessible.

In August, Parliament’s governance and administration select committee released its final report on a bill that would amend the Births, Deaths, Marriages and Relationships Registration Act, which was last revised in 1995.

The bill, sponsored by NZ First MP Tracey Martin, would amend the process of changing gender on birth certificates from a Family Court process to a self-declaration model, bringing birth certificates into line with driver’s licences and passports.

It would also introduce the option of an ‘‘X’’ gender marker as well as ‘‘M’’ and ‘‘F’’, and add the option of ‘‘parent’’ on a child’s birth certificate, alongside ‘‘mother’’ and ‘‘father’’.

A lesbian group known as Lesbian Rights Alliance Aotearoa (LRAA) says the move will endanger women. But queer advocates have hit back, saying the LRAA does not speak for them.

An LRAA spokesperson, who did not want to be named, said self-declaration of gender would put women at risk because it would make it ‘‘impossible’’ for women to retain the right to female-only spaces.

‘‘Any male can simply declare he is female and have every legal right to use [those things]. At present, law requires a burden of proof in order to change legal sex. There is a process to ensure abusers do not take advantage of the system.’’

In a joint statement from 37 groups and individuals, queer advocates welcomed the changes, saying they were ‘‘small but significant’’.

New Zealand Lesbians Social Group spokeswoman Rachel Green said the LRAA was ‘‘transphobic’’. She and many others in her group wanted to clarify the LRAA did not speak for all lesbians.

‘‘It’s not right to let a small group of people deny other people their rights and I don’t really see any harm that can come from the change.’’

Feminist Mothers Aotearoa spokeswoman Sarah Jane Parton said transgender rights were not up for discussion. ‘‘We’re not prepared to debate nonsense. I’m not sure what their endgame is; is it for trans people to just go away?’’

The bill will now progress to its second reading on an as-yet unconfirmed date.

Tracey Martin was not available for comment.