Bill of Gender Rights

trans • 11 April 2011 • Information, Transgender Info

It is time for the transgender community to take a strong stand against all gender-based discrimination that exists  because some people do not fit into current social norms of gender identity and gender roles.

It is time the gender-based community articulate this stand in words that clearly define what gender rights are.

It is time to stand alongside other minority rights movements to declare these gender rights as follows:

I.                     The Right to Assume and Express a Gender Identity and Gender Role

Every human being has within themselves an idea of who they are and what they are capable of achieving.  That identity and capability shall not be limited by a person’s physical or genetic sex, nor by what any society may deem as “masculine” or “feminine” behavior.  It is fundamental, then, that each individual has the right to assume gender roles congruent with their self-perceived identity and capabilities, regardless of biological sex, gender identity, or gender role.

Therefore, no person shall be denied their human or civil rights on the basis that their gender identity, gender role or perceived gender role is not congruent with their biological sex.

II.                  The Right to Freely Express Gender Identity and Gender Roles

Every individual has the right to freely express gender identity and gender roles in any manner that does not infringe on the freedom of another individual.

Therefore, no person shall be denied their human or civil rights on the basis that a private or public expression of a gender identity or gender role or perceived gender role is not congruent with their biological sex.

III.                The Right to Make One’s Body Congruent with Gender Identity or Gender Role

Every individual has the right to change his or her body or alter its physiology so it better fits a gender identity or gender role.  These changes may be cosmetically, chemically or surgically induced, provided these changes are supervised by an appropriately licensed professional, and the individual accepts sole responsibility for his or her actions.

Therefore, no person shall be denied their human or civil rights on the basis that they changed or wish to change their body, cosmetically, chemically, surgically or any combination of these, to better fit a gender identity or gender role.

Adapted from “Bill of Gender Rights” – JoAnn Roberts, Ph.D., 1990

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