TransGriot Note: Some of the work that the trans community was doing in the reawakening of trans activism in the early 90's was defining ourselves and articulating our concerns. The International Bill For Gender Rights was initially compiled during the 1993 International Conference on Transgender Law and Employment Policy conference in Houston and revised during subsequent ICTLEP conferences in 1994 and 1995. It built on the original one compiled by JoAnn Roberts in 1990.
The Right To Define Gender Identity
All human beings carry within themselves an ever-unfolding idea of who they
are and what they are capable of achieving. The individuals sense of self is not
determined by chromosomal sex, genitalia, assigned birth sex, or initial gender
role. Thus, the individuals identity and capabilities cannot be circumscribed by
what society deems to be masculine or feminine behavior. It is fundamental that
individuals have the right to define, and to redefine as their lives unfold,
their own gender identities, without regard to chromosomal sex, genitalia,
assigned birth sex, or initial gender role.
Therefore, all human beings have the right to define their own gender
identity regardless of chromosomal sex, genitalia, assigned birth sex, or
initial gender role; and further, no individual shall be denied Human or Civil
Rights by virtue of a self-defined gender identity which is not in accord with
chromosomal sex, genitalia, assigned birth sex, or initial gender role.
The Right To Free Expression Of Gender Identity
Given the right to define ones own gender identity, all human beings have
the corresponding right to free expression of their self-defined gender
identity.
Therefore, all human beings have the right to free expression of their
self-defined gender identity; and further, no individual shall be denied Human
or Civil Rights by virtue of the expression of a self-defined gender
identity.
The Right To Secure And Retain Employment And To Receive Just
Compensation
Given the economic structure of modem society, all human beings have 8 right
to train for and to pursue an occupation or profession as a means of providing
shelter, sustenance, and the necessities and bounty of life, for themselves and
for those dependent upon them, to secure and retain employment, and to receive
just compensation for their labor regardless of gender identity, chromosomal
sex, genitalia, assigned birth sex, or initial gender role.
Therefore, individuals shall not be denied the right to train for and to
pursue an occupation or profession, nor be denied the right to secure and retain
employment, nor be denied just compensation for their labor, by virtue of their
chromosomal sex, genitalia, assigned birth sex, or initial gender role, or on
the basis of a self-defined gender identity or the expression thereof.
The Right Of Access To Gendered Space And Participation In Gendered
Activity
Given the right to define one's own gender identity and the corresponding
right to free expression of a self-defined gender identity, no individual should
be denied access to a space or denied participation in an activity by virtue of
a self-defined gender identity which i5 not in accord with chromosomal sex,
genitalia, assigned birth sex, or initial gender role.
Therefore, no individual shall be denied access to a space or denied
participation in an activity by virtue of a self-defined gender identity which
is not in accord with chromosomal sex, genitalia, assigned birth sex, or initial
gender role.
The Right To Control And Change One's Own Body
All human beings have the right to control their bodies, which includes the
right to change their bodies cosmetically, chemically, or surgically, so as to
express a self-defined gender identity.
Therefore, individuals shall not be denied the right to change their bodies
as a means of expressing a self-defined gender identity; and further,
individuals shall not be denied Human or Civil Rights on the basis that they
have changed their bodies cosmetically, chemically, or surgically, or desire to
do so as a means of expressing a self-defined gender identity.
The Right To Competent Medical And Professional Care
Given the individual's right to define one's own gender identity, and the
right to change one's own body as a means of expressing a self-defined gender
identity, no individual should be denied access to competent medical or other
professional care on the basis of the individual's chromosomal sex, genitalia,
assigned birth sex, or initial gender role.
Therefore, individuals shall not be denied the right to competent medical or
other professional care when changing their bodies cosmetically, chemically, or
surgically, on the basis of chromosomal sex, genitalia, assigned birth sex, or
initial gender role.
The Right To Freedom From Psychiatric Diagnosis Or Treatment
Given the right to define one's own gender identity, individuals should not
be subject to psychiatric diagnosis or treatment solely on the basis of their
gender identity or role.
Therefore, individuals shall not be subject to psychiatric diagnosis or
treatment as mentally disordered or diseased solely on the basis of a
self-defined gender identity or the expression thereof.
The Right To Sexual Expression
Given the right to a self-defined gender identity, every consenting adult
has a corresponding right to free sexual expression.
Therefore, no individual's Human or Civil Rights shall be denied on the
basis of sexual orientation; and further, no individual shall be denied Human or
Civil Rights for expression of a self-defined gender identity through sexual
acts between consenting adults.
The Right To Form Committed, Loving Relationships And Enter Into Marital
Contracts
Given that all human beings have the right to free expression of
self-defined gender identities, and the right to sexual expression as a form of
gender expression, a/l human beings have a corresponding right to form
committed, loving relationships with one another, and to enter into marital
contracts, regardless of their own or their partner's chromosomal sex,
genitalia, assigned birth sex, or initial gender role.
Therefore, individuals shall not be denied the right to form committed,
loving relationships with one another or to enter into marital contracts by
virtue of their own or their partner's chromosomal sex, genitalia, assigned
birth sex, or initial gender role, or on the basis of their expression of a
self-defined gender identity.
The Right To Conceive, Bear, Or Adopt Children; The Right To Nurture And
Have Custody Of Children And To Exercise Parental Capacity
Given the right to form a committed, loving relationship with another, and
to enter into marital contracts, together with the right to express a
self-defined gender identity and the right to sexual expression, individuals
have a corresponding right to conceive and bear children, to adopt children, to
nurture children, to have custody of children, and to exercise parental capacity
with respect to children, natural or adopted, without regard to chromosomal sex,
genitalia, assigned birth sex, or initial gender role, or by virtue of a
self-defined gender identity or the expression thereof.
Therefore, individuals shall not be denied the right to conceive, bear, or
adopt children, nor to nurture and have custody of children, nor to exercise
parental capacity with respect to children, natural or adopted, on the basis of
their own, their partner's, or their children's chromosomal sex, genitalia,
assigned birth sex, initial gender role, or by virtue of a self-defined gender
identity or the expression thereof.
