The German government has passed a new law that makes it easier for transsexual, intersex and non-binary people to change their name and gender on official documents. The draft actually does not include the medical aspects, but only the bureaucratic ones, and interested persons need only make a self-declaration.
The reform, already approved in the cabinet, will also have to be voted on in the parliament, where it has faced numerous criticisms, especially from the Cdu-Csu opposition.
The draft law provides that persons from the age of 18 can change their gender and name without the need for an expert opinion. Minors over 14 will be able to do this on their own, but with the subsequent consent of their guardians. For minors up to 14 years of age it will be up to the legal guardians to make the change. In any case, the civil status office must be informed three months before the change is made.
Until now in Germany transsexual and non-binary people have to go through a procedure with two psychiatric evaluations to change their gender or name. The decision must then be made by a court. The cost of the procedures is on average 1900 euros.
