Transsexuals in Britain are to have their acquired sex recognised in law, allowing a second birth certificate to be issued and facilitating a legal marriage.
The Gender Recognition Bill will give full legal status to an individual's new sex provided they can demonstrate they have taken decisive steps towards living fully and permanently in the sex opposite to the one registered on their birth certificate.
It will confer all the rights and entitlements appropriate to transsexuals and will enable them, from the date of recognition, to marry.
The decision to draft the legislation is in line with the British Government's commitment to implement the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights.
A definite time for the Bill to come before Parliament has not been decided, but the Joint Committee on Human Rights must scrutinise the proposals before it is brought before MPs.
Those seeking legal recognition will apply to a Gender Recognition Panel, comprised of legal and medical members, and will need to meet legal and medical criteria.
Original birth records will remain in existence unamended and will be made available in limited circumstances. The link between the original and revised record will remain confidential within the Registrar General's office.
PA