‘Diverse’ Germany aims to make it simpler to legally change gender
- A draft self-determination law has been approved by cabinet, for citizens to update gender without court proceedings or expert psychiatric opinion
- Under certain conditions, the option would be accessible to people from the age of 14. The initiative has drawn criticism from opposition parties
Germany is taking steps to smooth the process for transgender, intersex and non-binary people to legally change their names and gender, as Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s ruling coalition attempts to deliver on a pledge to make society more inclusive.
Scholz’s cabinet approved a draft Self-Determination Law on Wednesday which would enable citizens to update their gender entry and their first names without having to endure court proceedings or provide an expert psychiatric opinion – a process some have complained can be demeaning and traumatic.
The new rules, which would take effect in November 2024 at the earliest – following parliamentary approval – would mean that a person would simply need to make a declaration to the registry office affirming that the requested change best corresponds to their gender identity and that they are aware of the implications.
Under certain conditions, the option would be accessible to people from the age of 14 years.
“Germany is diverse,” Scholz wrote in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. “That is why we are adapting our laws to the different realities of life.”
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The initiative has drawn criticism from opposition parties, including the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which accuses the ruling alliance of weakening society.
