January 11, 2016
Manitoba to Allow Change of Sex Designation on Marriage Registrations
– – –New Option for Transgender Individuals Not Born in Manitoba: Minister Lemieux
The Manitoba government continues to improve access for transgender individuals living and married in Manitoba with changes coming to allow change of sex designation on marriage registrations, Tourism, Culture, Heritage, Sport and Consumer Protection Minister Ron Lemieux announced today.
“In 2015, we eliminated the requirement to show proof of surgery so transgender Manitobans could change their birth documents,” Minister Lemieux said. “We are continuing to implement further changes identified by the transgender community.”
Effective March 1, the province will change the sex designation on a Manitoba marriage registration for eligible applicants, and will also issue a change of sex designation certificate to an eligible resident born outside of Manitoba if the individual is a Canadian citizen.
The minister said these amendments respect Manitoba’s Human Rights Code and the changes to the Vital Statistics Act follow consultations with stakeholder groups and health-care professionals. He added Manitoba is joining a growing number of jurisdictions that allow for these changes.
“We are pleased to see the province continue to move forward with changes the transgender community has been asking for,” said Mike Tutthill, executive director, Rainbow Resource Centre. “Changing one’s gender identity is a significant step and it’s good to know that the official steps or paperwork continue to be streamlined.”
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