The Australian state of Tasmania is set to completely remove gender from birth certificates. The move is being hailed as a step forward for the State’s transgender residents but is being criticised by feminists.

The bill is expected to be put to a vote in Tasmania’s lower house next month, according to The Australian. The proposed change comes as part of amendments to a bill that puts an end to transgender people having to divorce before than can get their gender changed on official documents.

A spokesperson for the group Women Speak Tasmania, however, said there is a need to “protect the integrity of the historical record contained in birth certificates” by keeping gender markers.

“Birth certificates are historical records that serve a number of demographic functions and inform both government policy and legislation on a wide range of areas,” Ms Williams said in a statement.

She said laws where “biological males can be declared legally female” are impeding on women’s rights.