Amendment to Gender Recognition Bill to go before the Seanad

On Wednesday May 10th, Senator Fintan Warfield (Sinn Fein) will put forward an amendment to the Gender Recognition Bill, that will allow 16 and 17 year olds to have their gender identity legally recognised. 

According to the Gender Regonition Bill, which was made law in 2015, anyone over 18 can have their gender identity legally recognised. It is currently possible for 16 and 17 year olds, however there is a different, longer process involved to do so. This includes getting a Court Order from the Circuit Family Court.

According to campaigners, this is unfair to the transgender population under the age of 18. If the new amendment is passed, 16 and 17 year olds have access to gender recognition in the same way that people over the age of 18 do. 

The amendment will be presented to the Seanad at 2pm on Wednesday May 10th.

You can support the Bill on social media before and on day itself with hashtag #GRB17.