Norrie backflip ‘a breach of rights’
http://www.starobserver.com.au/news/2010/03/18/norrie-backflip-a-breach-of-rights/22950
Activist norrie mAy-welby has lodged a complaint with the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) after the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages backflipped on issuing norrie with a recognised details certificate with “sex not specified” written on it.Norrie and the Sex And Gender Education (SAGE) lobby group believe the backflip is a breach of norrie’s rights under both the Australian Sex Discrimination Act 1984 and the United Nations Charter of Human Rights which protects a person’s right to self-determine their own social identity.
Norrie received the certificate, signed by the NSW Registrar, the day before the Mardi Gras parade. In the week after norrie went public, the story received both national and international attention, being picked up by news services as far away as Russia, China, and norrie’s birthplace of Scotland.
Norrie received a phone call from a representative of NSW Births, Deaths and Marriages on Tuesday, telling norrie the certificate would be cancelled.
Norrie claims this person revealed the backflip had come as a result of NSW Births, Deaths and Marriages being pressured by the NSW Attorney General’s Office.
Norrie then received a letter on Wednesday confirming the Registry would move to cancel the certificate.
Norrie lodged the complaint this morning at the Human Rights Commission’s Sydney headquarters, accompanied by a band of supporters and SAGE’s Dr. Tracie O’Keefe.
Also present was NSW Greens leader Lee Rhiannon who pledged to question the NSW Government in Parliament later today.
“I am devastated by the news. It is a hideous, humiliating position to find myself in and makes a mockery of my human rights,” norrie told waiting news media.
“I feel I have been completely violated by the Attorney General’s Office … I have no doubt [this] is politically motivated.”
SAGE’s Dr. Tracie O’Keefe said her organisation would continue to support Norrie in obtaining a “sex not specified” legal identity through the courts.
Norrie backflip ‘a breach of rights’
- Category:
- News
- Author:
- Andrew M Potts
- Posted:
- Thursday, 18 March 2010
Activist norrie mAy-welby has lodged a complaint with the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) after the NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages backflipped on issuing norrie with a recognised details certificate with “sex not specified” written on it.Norrie received the certificate, signed by the NSW Registrar, the day before the Mardi Gras parade. In the week after norrie went public, the story received both national and international attention, being picked up by news services as far away as Russia, China, and norrie’s birthplace of Scotland.
Norrie received a phone call from a representative of NSW Births, Deaths and Marriages on Tuesday, telling norrie the certificate would be cancelled.
Norrie claims this person revealed the backflip had come as a result of NSW Births, Deaths and Marriages being pressured by the NSW Attorney General’s Office.
Norrie then received a letter on Wednesday confirming the Registry would move to cancel the certificate.
Norrie lodged the complaint this morning at the Human Rights Commission’s Sydney headquarters, accompanied by a band of supporters and SAGE’s Dr. Tracie O’Keefe.
Also present was NSW Greens leader Lee Rhiannon who pledged to question the NSW Government in Parliament later today.
“I am devastated by the news. It is a hideous, humiliating position to find myself in and makes a mockery of my human rights,” norrie told waiting news media.
“I feel I have been completely violated by the Attorney General’s Office … I have no doubt [this] is politically motivated.”
SAGE’s Dr. Tracie O’Keefe said her organisation would continue to support Norrie in obtaining a “sex not specified” legal identity through the courts.
posted by Norrie @ Friday, March 19, 2010
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