Push to recognise gender change

The Greens and a Sydney MP are behind a push to ensure married people who undergo a sex change can have their birth certificate altered.

Greens MLC Mehreen Farugi and Independent Sydney MP Alex Greenwich say current laws do not allow a married person to alter the record of their sex.

It is claimed the law forces a transgender married person to choose between divorce - to allow their gender re-assignment to be recognised - or having an inaccurate birth certificate.

"These offensive provisions have remained in our law for far too long, and for no good reason," Dr Faruqi said in a statement.

Mr Greenwich said the "constitutionally valid" bill was about keeping couples together under law.

The move comes as Sydney celebrates the annual Mardi Gras festival.