The German parliament has voted to make it easier to change names and genders

Content of the article

BERLIN – German lawmakers on Friday approved legislation that would make it easier for transgender, intersex and non-binary people to change their name and gender on official records.

The “self-determination law,” one of several social reforms promised by Chancellor Olaf Scholz's liberal-leaning coalition government when it takes office at the end of 2021, will come into force on November 1.

Content of the article

Content of the article

Germany, the European Union's most populous country, lags behind several other countries in making the change. The Bundestag, the lower house of parliament, passed it with 374 votes, 251 against, and 11 abstentions.

German law allows adults to change their name and legal gender without further formalities at the Department of Immigration. They must notify the office three months before making the change.

The current “transsexual law,” which dates back four decades, requires people who want to change their gender on official documents to first get an evaluation by two experts “sufficiently familiar with the specifics of transsexuality” and then a court decision.

Since that law was drafted, Germany's highest court has struck down other laws requiring transgender people to divorce and undergo sterilization and sex-reassignment surgery.

“For more than 40 years, the 'transsexual law' has caused a lot of suffering … and only because people want to be recognized as they are,” the government's queer affairs commissioner, Sven Lehmann, told lawmakers. “And today we're finally going to finish it.”

Content of the article

Content of the article

The new legislation focuses on the legal entities of individuals. It does not include revising German regulations on gender reassignment surgery.

The new rules allow minors over the age of 14 to change their name and legal gender with the permission of a parent or guardian; if they do not agree, the teenagers can ask the family court to annul them.

In the case of children under 14 years of age, their parents or guardians must apply on behalf of them to the IRS.

No further changes are allowed within one year after the official change of name and gender takes effect. The new legislation will continue to decide who has access to operators of gyms and women's changing rooms, for example.

Naik Slavik, a transgender woman who was elected to parliament in 2021 on behalf of one of the ruling parties, the Greens, told about her experience of passing through the current system ten years ago. He asked, “Is this your brother's ID?” He said that it was enough. when he was forced to recognize himself.

“Two years, many conversations with experts and one district court trial later – the name change happened, and I'm about 2,000 euros ($2,150) poorer,” he told lawmakers. “As trans people, we often feel that our dignity is made a matter of negotiation.”

Content of the article

The mainstream conservative opposition criticized the legislation for lacking protections against abuse and failing to protect young people. Conservative lawmaker Suzanne Hierl complained that the government was “ignoring the legitimate concerns of many women and girls”.

“You want to cater to a strong but very small group, and in doing so you divide society,” Hierl said.

Martin Reichardt of the far-right Alternative for Germany party blasted what he called “ideological nonsense.”

Among others, Denmark, Norway, Finland and Spain have similar legislation.

In the UK, the Scottish Parliament has passed a bill in 2022 that would allow people aged 16 and over to change their gender on identity documents by self-declaration. This was vetoed by the British government, which was upheld by Scotland's highest civil court in December.

In other socially liberal reforms, the Scholz government legalized the possession of limited quantities of cannabis; Germany eased citizenship rules and ended restrictions on holding dual citizenships; and stopped short of banning doctors from “advertising” abortion services. Same-sex marriage was legalized in 2017.

Content of the article