Under a new law in Ireland, a person’s preferred gender will be recognized by the state. This means transgender people can get a birth certificate, which will reflect their preferred gender. However, the new law affects transgender people who are only 18 or older.
Tánaiste Joan Burton said that she believes the legislation that they have is among the most progressive in all of Europe. She also said that the transgender community fought a hard and long battle, and that this marked a historic day for the transgender community, as well as for all if Irish society.
Transgender people who want to apply for a Gender Recognition Certificate can do so by filling out an application from the Department of Social Protection. The preferred gender will be recognized by the state for all purposes, and this includes any dealings with public bodies.
Broden Giambrone, chief executive of the Transgender Equality Network Ireland, which is an Irish trans advocacy group, said that the wait for legal recognition was finally over. He added that the importance of being recognized in the state’s eyes could not be underestimated.
Ireland is the fourth country to allow transgender people to change their gender, legally, without surgery, as well as other medical interventions.
