Passport Battle

http://sxnews.e-p.net.au/news/trans-woman-takes-stand-over-passports-3107.html

Up until July 2007, All Australian Transsexual people were able to obtain an interim passport, which stated the sex in which they presented to the world, when it came time to travel for Gender Correction Surgery. It enabled them to travel in saftey and with Anonimity. 

This basic human right though, was changed, Without Consultation to anyone within the community. This amendment, to a twenty year law, is a clear breach of the UN Charter, Chapter 12 which allows for the right of safe passage.

As the law stands now, I AM able to get a female passport, but only AFTER I've shown the Department Of Foreign Affairs & Trade a letter from my surgeon, stating I've HAD "irreversible" Gender Correction Surgery. But, that's NOT THE POINT though.

It means, that when I travel overseas TO have my surgery (with the Male Passport), I will in fact, be travelling with a FALSE Passport. A spotlight thus will be placed upon me, "outing me", unnessicarily & opening me up to abuse, delays, suspicion, possible strip searches and even Arrest in a foreign country (This HAS happenend in the past). Now, WHERE exactly would they hold a person in detention under these circumstances? A cell with people of the sex "stated" on their passport?  

I'm just hoping common sense prevails.

Katrina Fox First broke the story in SX News...See Below

Whilst the Age Reporter Deborah Gough, wrote the following....

http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/singers-cousin-in-passport-row/2007/08/18/1186857841940.html

Finally, Katherine Cummings Polare' Editorial explains alot about the issue (Issue 76)

http://www.gendercentre.org.au/76article2.htm