The International Bill Of Gender Rights

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 theyare and what they are capable of achieving. The individuals sense of self is notdetermined by chromosomal sex, genitalia, assigned birth sex, or initial genderrole. Thus, the individuals identity and capabilities cannot be circumscribed bywhat society deems to be masculine or feminine behavior. It is fundamental thatindividuals 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 genderidentity regardless of chromosomal sex, genitalia, assigned birth sex, orinitial gender role; and further, no individual shall be denied Human or CivilRights by virtue of a self-defined gender identity which is not in accord withchromosomal 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 havethe corresponding right to free expression of their self-defined genderidentity.

Therefore, all human beings have the right to free expression of theirself-defined gender identity; and further, no individual shall be denied Humanor Civil Rights by virtue of the expression of a self-defined genderidentity.

The Right To Secure And Retain Employment And To Receive JustCompensation

Given the economic structure of modem society, all human beings have 8 rightto train for and to pursue an occupation or profession as a means of providingshelter, sustenance, and the necessities and bounty of life, for themselves andfor those dependent upon them, to secure and retain employment, and to receivejust compensation for their labor regardless of gender identity, chromosomalsex, genitalia, assigned birth sex, or initial gender role.

Therefore, individuals shall not be denied the right to train for and topursue an occupation or profession, nor be denied the right to secure and retainemployment, nor be denied just compensation for their labor, by virtue of theirchromosomal sex, genitalia, assigned birth sex, or initial gender role, or onthe basis of a self-defined gender identity or the expression thereof.

The Right Of Access To Gendered Space And Participation In GenderedActivity

Given the right to define one's own gender identity and the correspondingright to free expression of a self-defined gender identity, no individual shouldbe denied access to a space or denied participation in an activity by virtue ofa 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 deniedparticipation in an activity by virtue of a self-defined gender identity whichis not in accord with chromosomal sex, genitalia, assigned birth sex, or initialgender role.

The Right To Control And Change One's Own Body

All human beings have the right to control their bodies, which includes theright to change their bodies cosmetically, chemically, or surgically, so as toexpress a self-defined gender identity.

Therefore, individuals shall not be denied the right to change their bodiesas a means of expressing a self-defined gender identity; and further,individuals shall not be denied Human or Civil Rights on the basis that theyhave changed their bodies cosmetically, chemically, or surgically, or desire todo 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 theright to change one's own body as a means of expressing a self-defined genderidentity, no individual should be denied access to competent medical or otherprofessional 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 orother professional care when changing their bodies cosmetically, chemically, orsurgically, on the basis of chromosomal sex, genitalia, assigned birth sex, orinitial gender role.

The Right To Freedom From Psychiatric Diagnosis Or Treatment

Given the right to define one's own gender identity, individuals should notbe subject to psychiatric diagnosis or treatment solely on the basis of theirgender identity or role.

Therefore, individuals shall not be subject to psychiatric diagnosis ortreatment as mentally disordered or diseased solely on the basis of aself-defined gender identity or the expression thereof.

The Right To Sexual Expression

Given the right to a self-defined gender identity, every consenting adulthas a corresponding right to free sexual expression.

Therefore, no individual's Human or Civil Rights shall be denied on thebasis of sexual orientation; and further, no individual shall be denied Human orCivil Rights for expression of a self-defined gender identity through sexualacts between consenting adults.

The Right To Form Committed, Loving Relationships And Enter Into MaritalContracts

Given that all human beings have the right to free expression ofself-defined gender identities, and the right to sexual expression as a form ofgender expression, a/l human beings have a corresponding right to formcommitted, loving relationships with one another, and to enter into maritalcontracts, 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 byvirtue of their own or their partner's chromosomal sex, genitalia, assignedbirth sex, or initial gender role, or on the basis of their expression of aself-defined gender identity.

The Right To Conceive, Bear, Or Adopt Children; The Right To Nurture AndHave Custody Of Children And To Exercise Parental Capacity

Given the right to form a committed, loving relationship with another, andto enter into marital contracts, together with the right to express aself-defined gender identity and the right to sexual expression, individualshave a corresponding right to conceive and bear children, to adopt children, tonurture children, to have custody of children, and to exercise parental capacitywith respect to children, natural or adopted, without regard to chromosomal sex,genitalia, assigned birth sex, or initial gender role, or by virtue of aself-defined gender identity or the expression thereof.

Therefore, individuals shall not be denied the right to conceive, bear, oradopt children, nor to nurture and have custody of children, nor to exerciseparental capacity with respect to children, natural or adopted, on the basis oftheir own, their partner's, or their children's chromosomal sex, genitalia,assigned birth sex, initial gender role, or by virtue of a self-defined genderidentity or the expression thereof.