Irish Parliament introduced the new bill to mark the international day of transgender visibility. Currently the people of 18+ only can change the gender legally, those who are 16-18 can be recognized by the new gender if there is a court ruling allowing it. And now the Irish lawmakers are trying to change it. The Bill, proposed by Senator Fintan Warfield of Sinn Féin, and co-signed by Independent Senator David Norris and Green Party Senator Grace O’Sullivan, would lower the age for self-determination to 16, allowing transgender teens to change their gender without jumping through legal hurdles. The law also opens a legal pathway for transgender children under the age of 16 to gain legal recognition as their true gender, though on a more restricted basis. The bill would also commit to reviewing the inclusion of non-binary persons in Ireland’s gender laws. Sen. Warfielkd claims: “[We] wish to introduce a right of self-determination for persons who have reached the age of 16 years, ensuring access to a Gender Recognition Certificate for 16 and 17 year olds on the same terms as currently apply to persons who are 18 years or older. Through family consent and the Circuit Family Court, the Gender Recognition (Amendment) Bill 2017 also seeks to open a legal pathway for those under the age of 16 to apply for a Gender Recognition Certificate”.
