Everyone should soon be able to determine and change their gender and first name themselves. This is controversial. The Bundestag is now discussing the planned self-determination law in its first reading.
With regard to the planned self-determination law, Family Minister Lisa Paus emphasized that deciding on one’s own gender identity is a human right.
“No one should have to endure lengthy legal proceedings and psychiatric reports just to be able to change their civil status in their passport,” the Green politician told the German Press Agency. “The self-determined decision about one’s own gender identity is the core of the federal government’s draft law. Ultimately, this self-determined decision is a human right.”
The Bundestag will deal with the Self-Determination Act in its first reading on Wednesday evening. In the future, every person in Germany should be able to determine their gender and first name themselves and change them in a simple procedure at the registry office. The law is primarily aimed at transgender, intersex and non-binary people.
The Federal Government’s Queer Commissioner, Sven Lehmann (Greens), called on all democratic parties to “protect transgender people and defend their human dignity.” In recent months, defamatory false claims have been used to deliberately stir up sentiment against the planned self-determination law, he told the German Press Agency. “Fears and insecurities must not be stirred up just to get votes. Instead of fueling the mood further on the backs of those affected, I call on the Union in particular to conduct an objective debate about the law.”
Union criticizes the draft
The deputy Union parliamentary group leader Dorothee Bär (CSU) criticized, among other things, the regulations on gender entry for children and young people. “Adolescents, especially girls, are uncertain about their gender identity, especially during puberty,” Bär told “Welt”. “The Self-Determination Act promotes the tendency, particularly in this vulnerable group, to address age-related personality doubts with a legal gender change.” The law no longer provides for mandatory assessments for young people.
The vice-chair of the Union parliamentary group, Andrea Lindholz, accused the federal government of passing on difficult decisions to federal states or clubs: For example, which rules would apply to changing rooms in schools or sports clubs remained unclear. This law “only creates legal uncertainty,” she told the web.de portal.
Source: Stern
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