【By Stephanie Chao】

The Intersex, Transgender and Transsexual People Care Association (ISTSCare) yesterday criticized the Ministry of the Interior's (MOI) decision to conduct a survey on whether the current gender change regulations should be relaxed.

The association issued a statement yesterday, demanding that the MOI scrap the current executive order on gender change, which requires people to undergo the removal of gender-specific organs in order to apply for their preferred gender to be legally recognized.

Yet, amendments to the gender change regulations had been approved by the Legislative Yuan last year, alongside with the order to remove the current gender change restrictions.

The MOI has yet to comply, instead, it conducted surveys in May and June, according to local online media.

In response to ISTSCare's demands, the MOI said that it had been conducting surveys with medical institutions and related associations to understand and collect opinions on the issue. "The issue itself is largely impactful on the society," the statement read.

The Interior Ministry went on to deny that it will base its decision upon the survey results. The results will be analyzed and used as reference in amending more comprehensive gender change guidelines, the MOI said.

Chi Hui-jung, chief executive officer of the Garden of Hope Foundation, accused the MOI of using delay tactics through conducting surveys, in fear of backlashes from society.

Chi went on to lambast the MOI's survey, which included questions such as "if changes could be made to one's identity card, do you believe one should remove one's gender-specific organs?"

A person's basic rights should not be decided through an opinion poll, Chi said.

Another Draft in the Making
Currently, the MOI has stated that it drafted an amendment, "legalizing gender change ruling and registration procedures," and will send the draft to the Cabinet for examination, alongside other measures provided by related institutions and references from the survey results.

The MOI stated that since a gender change involves a "conversion of one's identity," and will in turn affect the lawful rights of a citizen and others. Application for gender change conditions, potential restrictions on a citizen's rights and the impact on others would need to be considered. For example, on dormitory management, sports competitions, military service, restrooms, pools and public baths.

[The China Post, 2015-07-16]