2024-04-13 09:19:46
German lawmakers today approved legislation that would make it easier for transgender, intersex and non-binary people to change their name and gender on their official documents, the Associated Press reported.
The “Self-Determination Act” is one of several social reforms promised by Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s liberal coalition government and will come into force on November 1.
Germany, the EU’s most populous country, followed several other countries that also passed similar laws, AP noted. The lower house of the parliament approved the bill with 374 votes “for” against 251 “against” and 11 “abstentions”, reported BTA.
The adopted legislation will allow adults to change their first name and gender on documents at the registry office without further formalities. They will have to give notice to the office three months before the change.
The law, which is currently in force, requires individuals who want to change their registered gender to first obtain evaluations from two experts “sufficiently familiar with the specific issues of transsexualism” and then a court decision. This law was passed about 40 years ago, and the German Supreme Court has since struck down some of its provisions requiring people to get divorced, sterilized and undergo sex reassignment surgery.
The new legislation focuses on the legal identity of natural persons. It does not include any changes to German regulations on gender reassignment operations.
The new rules will allow minors aged 14 and over to change their name and legal gender with the approval of their parents or guardians. If they do not agree, the teenagers will be able to ask a family court to allow the change.
In the case of children under the age of 14, their parents or guardians will need to submit applications to the Registrar’s Office on their behalf.
Once the official name and gender change takes effect, no other changes will be allowed for one year.