Germany passes new progressive transgender laws

Effective from November 2024, a new progressive German law will allow trans people to self-disclose their gender identity through a simple form submission, eliminating the previous requirement for difficult psychiatric assessment and long court approvals.

Additionally, the law permits individuals to change their legal gender to non-binary. Parents must submit documentation for minors under 14, while those over 14 can do so with the approval of their legal representatives or override their decision with family court approval.

Once changed, gender and name cannot be altered for at least a year. The previous law, criticised as outdated and burdensome, dates back to 1980.

Lawmaker Nyke Slawik, who is transgender, highlighted the significant financial and bureaucratic hurdles she faced under the old law.

This is similar to legislation in Spain that allows individuals over the age of 16 to change their legal genders without any medical professionals’ involvement. Similarly in the U.K., the Scottish parliament passed a law that allows individuals to change their legal gender via a self-declaration so long as they are above the age of 16.

Unsurprisingly, the bill has come under attack by Germany’s right-wing parties, and the German public remains somewhat divided on the issue. A poll from YouGov for the Welt am Sonntag newspaper showed that 46% of respondents were in favor of the bill while 41% against it.