Lawmakers in Spain passed a law on Thursday that allows people 16 and older to legally change their registered gender without medical or parental supervision.
The law was passed in Spain’s lower house of parliament 188-150, replacing a previous law that required people to consult a doctor before making changes to their government ID.
Minors between the ages of 12 and 13 can make changes with the authorization of a judge, while those between 14 and 16 must be accompanied by their parents or legal guardians.
Previously, Spanish transgender people required multiple doctors to diagnose gender dysmorphia – a psychological condition of identifying one’s biological sex with their gender identity.
In the past, those looking to change their legal gender were required to prove they had been living as the gender they identified with for two years or provide records showing they were taking hormones. Were staying
Transgender rights groups celebrating outside the Spanish parliament said the law represented a “before and after” moment in LGBT rights.
Equality Minister Irene Monteiro of the Podemos party said the law “de-pathologizes” trans lives and guarantees the rights of people, the BBC reports.
“Trans women are women,” Monteiro said.
The legislation, drafted by a centre-left coalition government, was opposed by conservatives. It passed after an 18-month-long parliamentary debate.
The law also drew the ire of some feminist activists, who perceived gender self-determination as a threat that confounded the concept of biological sex.
Even some members of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s Socialist party have opposed the move, fearing it will erode women’s rights, BBC Reported,
“When gender is de-emphasised over biological sex, it does not seem to me to be a step forward in a progressive direction; It seems to be a step backwards,” said former Deputy Prime Minister Sánchez Carmen Calvo. “The state has to answer for transgender people, but gender is neither voluntary nor optional.”
The bill is expected to become law after passing the Senate, which is expected by the end of the year.
Meanwhile on the same day, legislators in Scotland passed a similar law making it easier for people to change their legally recognized gender.
The bill, introduced by the Scottish National Party-led government, makes Scotland the first part of the UK to allow people to declare their gender on documents without the need for a medical diagnosis of gender dysmorphia.
The new rules require anyone applying for a Gender Recognition Certificate to live full-time in their declared identity for three to six months if they are aged 16-17 – as opposed to two years previously. against the required period.
The Bill reduced the minimum eligibility age from 18 to 16.
The amended law also establishes a “reflection period” of three months, during which applicants can change their mind. The Scottish Government has not yet decided when it wants the new process to take effect in 2023.
Proponents of the bill argued that the change would improve the lives of transgender people, allowing them to obtain official documents that match their gender identity.
The bill was opposed by “Harry Potter” author JK Rowling, who argued that the simplified process could give violent men access to safe places for women, such as shelters for domestic abuse survivors.
More than a dozen other countries have already adopted similar gender identity legislation.
post with wires