The Swedish Parliament on Wednesday, the 17th of April, passed a law that will make it easier for people to change their legal gender and lower the age of consent from 18 to 16, despite strong criticism from the government coalition, reports the British broadcaster BBC.
Sweden was the first country to make gender transition legal in 1972, but this process can take many years and requires careful examination and a doctor’s diagnosis of gender dysphoria.
Sweden’s new law, which will come into force in July 2025, will simplify the process of legal gender transition. Under it, a short consultation with a doctor or psychologist and approval by the National Board of Health and Welfare will be enough to change gender.
As well, persons who have reached the age of 16 will be able to legally change their gender, but persons under 18 will need the approval of both their parent or guardian, as well as a doctor and the National Board of Health and Welfare.
The new law will also distinguish between the legal gender transition process and gender surgery,
which will still require a longer assessment period and will only be allowed from the age of 18.
During the six-hour parliamentary debate, Johan Hultberg of Sweden’s ruling Moderate Party argued that the requirements for legal sex reassignment should not be as strict as those for irreversible gender surgery.
“Most Swedes will never notice that the law has changed, but for many transgender people the new law will be a significant change,” he added.
The Christian Democrats and the far-right Sweden Democrats in the government coalition did not support the new law. Many MEPs expressed concern that
more research on gender dysphoria should be carried out before such a law is approved.
Jimmie Åkesson, leader of the Sweden Democrats, criticised the adoption of the law, describing it as “deplorable” and without the support of the people.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson defended the proposal as “balanced and responsible”.
The general public is also less favourably inclined towards the law change, with a recent poll by the Swedish TV network TV4 showing that 59% of Swedes think it is a bad or very bad proposal, while 22% think it is a good one, according to Reuters.
Other European countries have also recently passed laws making it easier to legally change sex.
Last week, for example, Germany passed a law that allows people, including minors with parental consent, to change their legal gender without a doctor’s certificate. Spain passed a law last year allowing legal gender change for persons over 16 without a medical assessment.
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