Article author:
Associated Press
Geir Moulson
Berlin (AP) — On Thursday, the German government announced plans to make it easier for transgender people to officially change their names and genders. Old rules that require expert evaluation and court approval.
Under the planned "self-determination method", adults can change their name and legal gender at the registry office without further proceedings.
The existing "Sex Change Act", which came into force in 1981, now requires individuals to obtain ratings from two professionals. Expert training and experience will determine that you are "well familiar with the specific issue of transsexuals." Change the gender of the official document.
Over the years, the German Supreme Court has invalidated other provisions requiring transgender people to be divorced, sterilized and undergo sex reassignment surgery. I made it.
The existing law "inspires the spirit of the 70's," said Lisa Paus, German family minister. "At that time, the state wanted to help those who were considered psychologically ill, and it set a high hurdle for this."
The current requirement is " Not only is it time consuming and expensive. They are also very humiliating, but above all they are completely unnecessary, "Paus told reporters in Berlin.
The proposed new rule provides for minors over the age of 14 to change their name and gender with the approval of their parents or guardians. If they disagree, teenagers can ask the family court to dismiss them.
For children under the age of 14, parents or guardians must apply for a registry office on their behalf.
Paus is a provision aimed at "guaranteeing the seriousness of the desire to change" after a formal change in name and gender has been registered, allowing further changes for one year. I said it wouldn't be done.
The Minister said the regulation would also impose a fine if information about a person's gender or name change was disclosed without permission.
Justice Minister Marco Bushman said he was confident that a law incorporating the changes would be submitted to the Cabinet later this year. After that, approval by the House of Representatives is required. The House is dominated by a coalition government of three social Liberal parties, Prime Minister Olaf Scholz.
This change is the second in a series of planned liberalization reforms that the Schortz administration has been working on since taking office in December. Last week, lawmakers resolved to end the ban on "advertising" abortions that would have led doctors to be prosecuted for providing information about procedures to potential patients in the past.
The coalition government aims to enact a law later this year to legalize the sale of cannabis for recreational purposes. We also want to ease the path to German citizenship, lift dual citizenship restrictions, and reduce the minimum age for voting in national and European Union elections from 18 to 16.