Germany Plans Simpler Legal Gender Change Process

The German government has unveiled plans to make it easier for trans people to have their first name and gender legally recognized.

The move was announced by Family Affairs Minister Lisa Paus during a press conference in Berlin. “The right to live a self-determined life is fundamental to all people,” Paus said during the press conference.

She added that the current procedures are “not just lengthy and expensive but also deeply humiliating. But above all, they are completely superfluous.”

“We live in a free and diverse society that is already further along in many places than our laws are. It's about time that we adapt the legal framework to societal reality,” she said.

Paus said that after a formal change of gender is registered, no further changes would be allowed for a year. This is intended to “ensure the seriousness of the desire to change.”

As DW reports, the proposed “self-determination” law would replace Germany's “transsexual law,” which required people to go to court for their first name and gender to be amended on official documents. They would need to provide two expert reports, often from psychotherapists. The law has been in effect in Germany for 40 years.

Under the plans, an adult can go to their local registry office and declare the change. Children over the age of 14 would be allowed to do so with permission from their parents or legal guardians.

Germany's governing coalition promised to abolish the “transsexual law” when it came to power in December 2021. Justice Minister Marco Buschmann said he expected the government to approve the law before the end of the year, after which it would still need to pass through parliament.

Germany's family affairs minister said the law would allow for fines in cases where a person's gender or name change is disclosed without their permission.

Read related myGwork articles here:

Germany Compensates Hundreds Convicted Under Nazi-Era Homosexuality Law

Germany Passes Law Banning Conversion Therapy For Minors

The Catholic Church In Germany Declared Homosexuality As “Normal”

Germany Will Add Third Gender Option on Official Documents for Intersex People

Keep up to date with the latest myGnews

LGBTQ+ professionals, LGBTQ+ Graduates, LGBTQ+ professional network, LGBTQ+ professional events, LGBTQ+ networking events, LGBTQ+ Recruitment, LGBTQ+ Friendly organizations, LGBTQ+ Friendly companies, LGBTQ+ jobs