Recognise LGBT+ people within the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act

Eligibility - Queensland residents
Principal Petitioner:
Esther Vale
9/9 Land Street
TOOWONG QLD 4066
Total Signatures - 10,838
Sponsoring Member: Mr Michael Berkman MP
Posting Date: 15/2/2021
Closing Date: 23/3/2021
Tabled Date: 24/3/2021
Responded By: Hon Shannon Fentiman MP on 27/4/2021
TO: The Honourable the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland

Queensland residents draws to the attention of the House that the current legislation is the weakest in the country for recognition of trans and gender diverse people, and should be updated. There are several relatively simple changes that will make a vast increase in inclusivity and acceptance of LGBT+ people.

People should have the right to legally register as they self-identify. This means removing the requirement for a person to undergo sex reassignment surgery to change the sex listed on their birth certificate. The sex marker should also be changed without 'annotation', as there is no reason for these documents to out people.

To include people of a third or non-binary gender, birth certificates should at least have an additional 'X' option. Queensland should also provide 'recognised details certificates' as other States and Territories do.

The cost of making a change to one's birth certificate is also an issue and functions as a prohibitive 'trans tax'. The limit of one name change per year can also be a roadblock for trans people, and should be increased or given exceptions for name changes with reason of gender affirmation.

For recognition of same-sex and non-binary parents, the BDMR Act should also remove the requirement for parents to be listed as one mother and one father. A gender-neutral approach here will be more inclusive and accurate.

Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to call upon the Attorney General to action reform of the Act, remove the 'trans tax', and fix the Registry's processes.