Australian-first laws banning unnecessary and irreversible medical procedures for intersex people have passed in the ACT Legislative Assembly.
Intersex people - the "I" in LGBTQIA+ - are born with sex characteristics, such as genitals, gonads or chromosome patterns, that do not fit male or female norms.
Advocates say children often undergo unnecessary, irreversible medical procedures when they are too young to consent.
The Variation in Sex Characteristics (Restricted Medical Treatment) Bill 2023 will stop deferrable treatments on intersex people's sex characteristics until they are old enough to take part in the decision.
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr became teary when he introduced the bill a few months ago, and today, as the "internationally significant reform" passed, he also choked back tears.
"I am immensely proud that the ACT is leading the nation to a better standard of care for people with variations in sex characteristics," Mr Barr said.
"Alongside celebrating how far we've come, I think it's incumbent [to recognise] all members in this parliament, who care about the autonomy, consent and safety of people with variations in sex characteristics and I thank them for their support of this bill today.
"We look forward to the detailed debate, where I will hold it together better than I have just done. I commend the bill to the Assembly."
The territory is one of the few places in the world to consider these laws, and the ACT government and intersex advocates hope other Australian jurisdictions will follow suit.