Sweden Passes Law To Make It Easier To Change Legal Gender
On Wednesday, Sweden’s parliament approved legislation facilitating the process for individuals to alter their legal gender. The law also reduces the minimum age for such changes from 18 to 16 years, despite facing significant opposition from within the ruling coalition.
Since 1972, individuals in Sweden have had the option to alter their legal gender, although the process is often lengthy and involves undergoing a comprehensive evaluation as well as receiving a diagnosis of gender dysphoria from a medical professional.
According to the upcoming legislation set to be implemented next year, a briefer session with either a medical professional or a psychologist will be adequate, provided it is coupled with endorsement from The National Board of Health and Welfare.
The new legislation will separate the legal gender change process from medical interventions such as sex reassignment surgery, though the latter will still necessitate thorough assessment procedures.
Supporters of the legislation argue that it represents an update to the current law, aiming to align Sweden more closely with its Nordic counterparts and numerous other European nations that have established mechanisms for individuals to define their legal gender.
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“This is not a revolution we are doing today, it is a reform,” said Johan Hultberg of the Moderates during a debate. “It is not reasonable that there should be the same requirements for changing legal gender as for making an irreversible gender-confirming surgery.”
However, the bill is unpopular, especially with voters to the right.
According to a recent poll commissioned by TV4, 59% of Swedes say it is a bad or very bad proposal, while 22% think it is a good one.
It has also split the government. To pass the bill, the center-right Moderates and the Liberals worked with the center-left opposition, circumventing the government coalition partner the Christian Democrats, and government backers the Sweden Democrats.
Critics argue that more evaluation is needed and that the law change could make some women feel uncomfortable if they have to share changing rooms with those who have transitioned.
“We believe that this is a reprehensible proposal, which risks having unforeseen and serious consequences,” said Carita Boulwen of the far-right Sweden Democrats. “Not just for the individual, but for society as a whole.”
Sweden Passes Law To Make It Easier To Change Legal Gender