The gender identity bill, which provides for the recognition and registration of the gender of a person, was approved in parliament tonight, after both sides of the house voted in favour.

Transgender individuals will no longer have to go through gender reassignment surgery to change their birth certificate, and a notarial deal submitted to the director of the Public Registery will suffice.

Parents also have the possibility to postpone the entry of a gender marker on their children’s birth certificate.

Leader of the Opposition Simon Busuttil was not present for the vote. In comments to this newsroom, a spokesperson for the PN said that Dr Busuttil knew that no vote had to be taken, because there was no division on the issue, and the Opposition had already declared it will support the bill. The PN leader could not attend because of other commitments.