The German government has introduced a proposed law that aims to simplify the process of legally changing one’s name and gender. Under the “self-determination law,” adults would be able to change their first name and legal gender at registry offices without undergoing expert assessments or seeking court authorization. The move is seen as a significant step toward protecting the rights of transgender, intersex, and nonbinary individuals and combating discrimination.The current law, established in 1981, requires individuals to obtain assessments from two experts and receive a court decision to change their gender on official documents. Over the years, Germany’s top court has struck down other provisions, such as mandatory divorce, sterilization, and gender-transition surgery requirements.
The proposed law states that for children under 14, legal guardians must submit the declaration of change, while teenagers aged 14 and older can submit it themselves with the support of their custodians.Germany joins other European countries in making gender changes more accessible. Spain recently passed a law allowing individuals over 16 to change their legally registered gender without medical supervision. Scotland faced challenges from the British government over a law that aimed to ease gender changes on official documents. The Scottish bill, which allows self-declaration for individuals aged 16 and older, was vetoed by the British government, citing concerns about potential conflicts with existing equality legislation.
The German government’s proposed law signifies a significant step toward ending discrimination and ensuring the dignity of transgender, intersex, and nonbinary individuals. It aligns with efforts in other European countries to make gender changes easier and more accessible, although challenges and debates persist in some regions regarding the balance between gender rights and existing legislation.