Ireland Nears Recognition of Trans Identities

Pending legislation in Ireland would permit transgender people to amend their birth certificates to reflect their accurate gender, reports the Irish Times. But the legislation would also require transgender people who are currently married to divorce and re-enter into a same-sex civil partnership, reports the Transgender Equality Network Ireland.

"Some members of Ireland's trans community are in loving marriages with children," said TENI director Broden Gambrione. "In effect, this would force them to choose between the integrity of their family and accessing a basic human right. No one should be asked to make such a choice. Ireland is a progressive country whose constitution affords particular protection to the family based on marriage. This proposal shows no respect for Ireland's married trans families. The idea of forcing a happy couple to live apart and divorce is unimaginable."

Social Protection Minister Joan Burton spoke to the issue at the opening session of the fourth annual European Transgender Council in Dublin on Friday. She said the issue was a priority for her administration, and pledged continued dialogue with TENI and other activist groups seeking fair legal recognition for transgender Irish people.

The legislation, which has yet to be introduced, comes five years after an Irish High Court court ruled in favor of Lydia Foy, a trans woman who argued that the state was required to provide her with a means to recognize her accurate gender through an amended birth certificate. Ireland currently allows transgender people to apply for passports and driver's licenses that reflect their accurate gender but does not allow them to amend a birth certificate accordingly.

Trending stories

Joe Biden has tied the record for most LGBTQ+ judges confirmed in federal courts

Out and About with Karan Soni

Plastique Tiara reaches 4M followers—close to surpassing Trixie Mattel

Your Lovable Trans Auntie asks, "Where do we go from here?"

Broadway bound: The best hotels in NYC’s Theater District for every type of traveler

France becomes world’s first country to enshrine abortion rights in constitution

​'Naked Gun' trailer: Liam Neeson dons drag, reveals strawberry panties​

Cowboys & Queens U.S. tour by Jane Hilton: A modern American dream

Trump's orders prompt CDC to erase HIV resources

Beyond Wonderland's accepting & unifying rave culture is needed more than ever

The Charles is Pacific Grove's new LGBTQ+ hotel

Dylan Efron dishes on his sexy back arch & Speedo pics: 'That's what I'm good at!'

Tracy Chapman's debut album turns 35: Watch these iconic performances

How climate disasters hurt mental health in young people

When Lady Gaga met Chappell Roan, she made sure to tell her this

Season 4 of The Switch on resilience & radical self-love returns this spring

Ranking NWSL teams by how gay the name is

Discover the power of Wellness in your life

Matt Bomer reveals his favorite 'Fellow Travelers' sex scene with Jonathan Bailey

Robert Irwin is stripping down & rocking tiny briefs in new underwear campaign

Elon Musk uses burner accounts on X, doesn’t fact-check: report

Broadway's best raise over $1 million for LGBTQ+ and HIV causes

Peaches Christ says she's been 'retraumatized' by police investigating drag icon Heklina's death

All 6 rogue Mississippi cops got long prison sentences in 'Goon Squad' torture of 2 Black men

Gerald Garth is keeping people of color happy and healthy through trying times

• 0
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8

"This is a moment where we can and must influence the legislation to be the best it can be," said Giambrone in a press release. "We need legislation that respects the diversity of our community, that does not pathologize us and does not tear our families apart. And we need it now."

Ireland is the only country in Europe with no legal recognition of transgender people, according to TENI.