Gender identity no longer a mental illness in Victoria
AN amendment to Victoria’s Mental Health Bill (2014) to ensure the expression of of any particular gender identity is not defined as a mental illness has been passed in the state’s parliament tonight.
The amendment was introduced by Prahran state Liberal MP Clem Newton-Brown to the Coalition cabinet, who accepted it before it was introduced in the upper house.
The Greens had also introduced the same amendment, and the cross-party support of the change to the bill passed in order for it to be legislated.
Section 4(2) of the bill sets out examples of what does not constitute mental illness: “that the person expresses or refuses or fails to express a particular sexual preference or sexual orientation”.
The successful amendments secured “gender identity” into the wording of that clause.
Newton-Brown said the amendment was a win for the Victoria’s trans* community in particular.
“The trans* community is relatively small but it is important that legislation takes into account their particular circumstances,” he told the Star Observer.
“I have responded to concerns from the community and ensured that it is crystal clear in Victoria that no one can be deemed to have a mental illness by virtue of their gender identity.”
As much as I do not support the LNP, credit where credit is due. Well done!
This week has been the best week for the rights of the GLBTIQ community since Kevin Rudd removed all forms of discrimination except for the marriage act in 2008.
Clem Newton-Brown’s bill to removing trans as a mental health condition deserves to be congratulated.
The Liberal government of NSW is removing the gay panic defense.
The Senate is looking at intersex issues for the first time in Australian History.
Lets’ compare Victoria to South Australia (The ALP has been in office for over 12 years in South Australia). In South Australia the AIDS council has been defunded and The gay panic defense still stands as the law.
In Victoria we have seen the government commit to extinguishing the record of those charged pre-1981 with the crime of “homosexuality”. The World AIDS conference will be in Melbourne this year. Trans has been legislated not to be a mental health issue.
Yet it’s now also easier to discriminate against people??
A hollow victory for an out of touch government trying to court the LGBTIQ vote. Pathetic and insulting.
But I wouldn’t know anything about government or laws or or the Victorian State Parliament under Napthine- I’m just a girl who deliberately gets raped so I can have abortions
This is great news, especially from a socio-legal perspective. The law gradually turns from reactive to progressive however only at the State level.
It is unfortunate that at a federal level, even where Medicare is concerned, gender identity disorder or dysphoria is still regarded as a ‘mental illness’ requiring appropriate ‘mental’ treatment.
Each and every one of us, given those with the capacity for reason and understanding; know well who we are and should not be deemed unfit members of society.
But it will now be lawful for trans people to be sacked from their jobs or refused services by religious organisations thanks to Clem Newton-Brown voting to repeal equal opportunity laws.
Sorry Clem. I know it’s election time but I know a fair-weather friend when I see one.