Transsexuals not 'men,' Aussie court rules

PERTH, Australia, Sept. 2 (UPI) -- A Western Australia court, in a landmark decision, has ruled that transsexual "men" are, in fact, women.

The ruling came on an appeal of gender legislation by Attorney General Christian Porter.

The legislation, passed by the Western Australia State Parliament in 1999, permitted the state Gender Reassignment Board to issue a certificate when a person "demonstrates a belief in the gender they have been reassigned," along with other factors, such as receiving counseling.

The appeal prohibits two female-to-male transsexuals from being recognized as men, the West Australian reported Thursday.

The case hinged on the lack of male "genital and reproductive physical characteristics," the court ruled. In addition the court noted that the two women, who have not been named in court documents, have female reproductive organs.