What are the implications of the Gender Identity, Gender Expression and Sex Characteristics Bill on children and adolescents, both those who are transgender or intersex and those who are not?

What do doctors, sociologists, psychiatrists and educators have to say about it, whether they are coming from the LGBTIQ field or not? What implications will it have on our educational system?

Once we recognise that there are no longer only boys and girls but that there are six, seven or even more genders, will teachers still be allowed to speak in terms of ‘boys and girls’ in class? How will sex education be taught?

Physician and philosopher Carl Elliot (The Atlantic, 2000) asks whether our cultural and historical conditions have just revealed transsexuals or also created them.

We acknowledge the sensitivity of the Bill in question and how important it is to ensure non-discrimination, the rights of the LGBTIQ community and support, for example when someone is in the process of accepting one’s body with ambiguous genitalia or experiencing social isolation in school.

For too long society has set aside or brushed off these issues with cynicism or humour. However, when such bills, which touch the deepest core of the human person, become law without any discussion, they feel like an imposition on the rest of the society.

We should strive to move towards an inclusive society where LGBTIQs feel comfortable and happy to be themselves and where straight people who are not only tolerant but also welcoming towards the gay community but do not fully endorse all their values, such as those about family, are not afraid to be themselves or speak their minds either.