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In South Africa no express law exists for Transgender and non-gender-conforming persons to amend their gender markers, except for Act 49.
This act allows transgender persons who have begun their medical transition, intersex persons and gender non-conforming persons, to change the sex descriptor in their identity documents, to reflect their gender identity.
This law is currently challenged by Trans and Intersex individuals who have applied for amendments with South Africa's Department of Home Affairs (DHA).
Read | Crossing the Divide: A parent’s guide to understanding our transgender children
In celebration of (International) Transgender Day of Visibility which takes place on 31 March each year, the local and regional lesbian, trans, intersex and gender non-conforming (LTIGNC) movement in South Africa, Iranti, teamed up with the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) to offer Identity Document applications and assistance with gender marker and name changes to transgender persons at their offices.
Trans Day of Visibility (TDOV) is a day dedicated to celebrating the accomplishments of transgender and gender diverse persons and celebrating their contributions to society.
The day is also focused on raising awareness of the work that still needs to be done to end the discrimination and exclusion faced by transgender persons worldwide, and protect their human rights.
Also read | Parenting a transgender child? Here's where to find help
Currently, trans and gender-diverse persons with identity documents that do not reflect their gender identity (and gender expression) face challenges and access barriers in their daily lives.
The ability to access healthcare, travel, job opportunities, voting, and many other services that cisgender people take for granted is severely impacted by trans persons not having legal gender recognition.
This year's Trans Day Of Visibility aims to address the difficulties and discrimination that trans and gender-diverse people face when attempting to obtain identity documents that reflect their true identities.
Also read: ‘He’s still the same person inside’: Mom opens up about parenting her transgender child
In collaboration with the Department of Home Affairs, Iranti provided a safe and inclusive space for trans and gender diverse people to find assistance with their gender marker change applications and apply for ID documents.
The existing laws facilitate the barriers that trans and gender diverse people face in obtaining identity documents; therefore, Iranti calls on the National Department of Home Affairs to remove gender markers from identity documents.
The organisation also asks for the Alteration of Sex Descriptors and Sex Status Act (Act 49 of 2003) to be repealed and replaced with depathologised legislation, that grants trans and gender-diverse people the right to self-determination.
Find more transgender support resources here: Crossing the Divide
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