AUS: New law will recognise trans spouces

Posted in: International Daily News
By GayNZ.com Daily News Staff - 20th February 2009

Australia will recognise same-sex marriages from July this year - but only in cases where one of the partners is transgender.

From 1 July, the Federal Government will legally recognise same-sex marriages in cases where the marriage was originally registered between a male and a female, and one partner subsequently transitions, reports SX News.

"While the reforms do not expressly address the sex or gender diversity of specific individuals, they ensure that ... a transgender individual who remains married after surgery will not be deemed to be no longer married, as a result of the reforms," clarified the Federal Attorney-General's Department.

"The effect of the reforms is that such an individual will receive the same treatment regardless of whether they are considered to be a member of the same or opposite sex."