The new law on gender identity will rectify the human rights breaches of the past and send a clear message that the rights of transgender and intersex persons need to be put on the agenda, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said.

He was speaking  at a conference organised by the Civil Liberties Ministry ahead of the expected Parliamentary vote on the bill on Gender identity, Gender Expression and Sex Characteristics in Parliament this evening.

The bill, which was called “historic” by representatives of international LGBTI advocacy groups, will, among other changes, remove the need to undergo gender reassignment surgery before official documents are changed to reflect the person’s gender identification.

It also allows for the possibility of a child’s gender marker to be left open at birth.

The Prime Minister expressed his satisfaction that the bill was set to be passed without any major compromises, but said he was “shocked” at a number of speeches made during the parliamentary debate, which he said betrayed “inbuilt prejudice”.

Also speaking during the conference, Civil Liberties Minister Helena Dalli said transgender individuals had for years to deal with “abusive legal requirements” and “institutional discrimination.”

“All individuals have a gender identity, whether we are aware of it or not, and the right to have that identity recognised by others,” the minister said.

Opposition spokesman Clyde Puli said the PN would be supporting the bill in the interests of “compassion and respect for the human person” but added that there remained many practical challenges to its implementation, particularly in the areas of health and education.

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