Transgender rights champion Dr Lydia Foy has received the prestigious European Parliament’s Citizen’s Prize in recognition of her legal struggle with the State to obtain a new birth certificate reflecting her true gender. Dr Foy was nominated for the prize by Sinn Féin MEPs Lynn Boylan, Martina Anderson, Matt Carthy and Liadh ní Riada.
She was presented with her award at a ceremony in Brussels on 14 October, where she was accompanied by representatives of FLAC (Free Legal Advice Centres), Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI) and Focus the Identity Trust (NI). Dr Foy is the only Irish recipient of the award this year and is also the first transgender recipient of this honour. In her acceptance speech, she expressed a desire to see a more open and accepting society which does not marginalise individuals.
FLAC has represented Dr Foy in her case since 1997. Michael Farrell, FLAC’s senior solicitor who has wored on the case for the past 10 years, noted the wider significance of this important honour for the European transgender community and the impact Lydia’s case has had nationally, in the adoption of the Gender Recognition Act earlier this year, as well as internationally.
Click here (Irish Times) and here (Irish Examiner) to read about the Citizen’s Prize award ceremony and here to read the FLAC report.
Click here to listen to an Irish Times podcast including an interview with Lydia Foy.