the administrative procedure for gender change will soon be simplified

Olaf Scholz’s government has reached an agreement paving the way for a simplification of the administrative procedure for people wishing to change gender, which has long been demanded by the LGBT+ community. “As a parliamentary group of the SPD, we expressly welcome the fact that the law on self-determination is finally moving forward”Jan Plobner, spokesperson for the Social Democratic Party for issues concerning transgender people in the Bundestag (German Chamber of Deputies), told AFP on Saturday March 25.

According to this agreement, revealed by the German daily Suddeutsche Zeitungtransgender, intersex and non-binary people will in future have to provide a simple self-declaration if they wish to change their first name or gender designation in the civil status register.

A long and “unworthy” procedure

Until now, the procedures are defined by a law dating from the 1980s which de facto considers transidentity as a mental illness: people wishing to change gender must present two psychological expert reports and it is the competent district court which decides . The procedure is long, costly and considered degrading by those concerned.

“The unworthy procedure” to which they are subject “will soon be a thing of the past”, particularly congratulated Jan Plobner. The agreement between the Ministries of Justice and the Family will allow to complete the draft law on self-determination, “so that the legislation can I hope soon be applied”reacted Sven Lehmann, government agent for the rights of the LGBT + community.

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The agreement settles in particular the delicate question of gender change for minors, according to the newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung. For children under 14, only parents or guardians can initiate a procedure. For those over 14 whose parents contest the process, it is a court that will have to decide. There is also time for reflection. It is only after three months that the gender change in civil status will come into effect. A possible new request to change gender will only be possible after one year.