Gender Self-Identification Laws Are Rolled out in Taiwan
In 2021, a trans woman successfully changed the sex marker on her ID card from male to female without providing the proof of a sex reassignment surgery. Through the ruling of the administrative court, she legally became the first female who was born with a penis in Taiwan. Currently, 6 males and 1 female have won lawsuits to change their legal sex without undergoing bottom surgery.
Executive Yuan will be drafting the “Gender Recognition Act (GRA)” in order to let trans people change the sex markers on their ID cards (aka the “Gender Not Sex Act”). However, its Department of Gender Equality conduct an outsourcing survey of LGBT people rather than the public and women’s rights organizations. Thus, we doubt that how will the “Gender Recognition Act” cover both trans’ and women’s rights? Or, will women’s safety, privacy, social welfare programs, and other rights be sacrificed like they already are in other nations?
Furthermore, when Taiwan is going to allow transgender and intersex athletes to “transfer” to another group in the competitions of National Middle School Athletic Games (NMSAG) from 2023, will there be any guarantee of a level playing field?