The German Government reached an agreement that paves the way for the simplification of the administrative procedure that people who wish to change their gender must carry out, parliamentary sources reported today.
“As a parliamentary group of the Social Democratic Party (SPD), we expressly welcome the fact that the self-determination law is finally moving forward,” Jan Plobner, spokesperson for the Bundestag group for transgender issues, told the AFP news agency. (Parliament).
According to this agreement, revealed by the Süddeutsche Zeitung newspaper, transgender, intersex and non-binary people must in future submit a simple declaration if they wish to change their name or gender mention in the civil registry.
Currently, the procedures are defined in this phase by a law dating from the 80s, which considers transidentity as a mental illness.
Therefore, people who wish to change their gender must present two psychological expert opinions and it is the court of competent instance that decides.
The procedure is long, costly and degrading for the people affected, who have been calling for simplification for a long time.
“The undignified procedure” to which people who want to change their gender identity are subjected “will soon be in the past,” Plobner said.
The agreement between the Ministries of Justice and Family will allow the completion of the bill on self-determination, “so that the legislation can be applied soon,” said Sven Lehmann, government representative for the rights of the LGTB + community.
Regarding minors under 14 years of age, only parents or guardians may initiate a procedure.
There is also a time for reflection of three months from the moment the procedure is carried out in the civil registry until the change of gender takes effect.
If after three months, the person wants to submit a new application, they must wait a year.
Source: Ambito
