Germany Passes Landmark LGBTQ+ Law To Ease Gender Change In Docs

In a momentous win for the LGBTQ+ community, the German Parliament passed a law to make registered gender transition easier. From November 1, 2024, transgender, intersex, and non-binary German citizens over the age of 18 can easily change their gender in official records, according to the 'self-determination law'. Citizens can also request that no details regarding their gender be registered at all. Previously, registered gender transition required a doctor's certificate and the approval of a family court. The newly passed law also imposes hefty fines for disclosing someone's prior registered name or gender without consent. 

According to BBC, the self-determination law is one of the several social reforms that Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s liberal-leaning coalition government pledged when it took office in late 2021. It replaces the 1980 Transsexuals Law (Transsexuellengesetz) which once included the requirement of surgical reassignment for gender recognition.

Germany's New LGBTQ+ Law

The self-determination law which comes into force on November 1, 2024, allows LGBTQ+ citizens over 18 years old to legally change the registered gender in official records. Three months after a request for gender change is made, applicants will have to appear at a registry in person. The law also allows the option to leave the registered gender blank.

Moreover, intentionally disclosing someone's prior name or legal gender could attract a fine of up to €10,000 in some cases. The exceptions for this are if it is a legal requirement due to court proceedings or police investigations. First names will need to represent the new legal gender.

It finally happened!!!! A new law here in Germany allowing trans people to change their name more easily and without requiring several doctors certificates etc. I'm not sure how much it will cost now to change my name, but I'll make it possible💪🏼

This is a glorious day❤️🔥

— Chess *COMMISSIONS OPEN* (@smurdles) April 12, 2024

The law requires 14 to 18-year-olds to present parental or legal guardian consent to appeal while those below 14 years old require the guardian to present an appeal. The time limit to make any further changes in the appeal is 12 months.  Applications from male to female or 'diverse' made less than two months before a national defence emergency, will be put on hold. 

Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in the Parliament, "We show respect to trans, intersex and non-binary people - without taking anything away from others. This is how we continue to drive the modernisation of our country. This includes recognising realities of life and making them possible by law."

The new law has been widely celebrated by human rights groups. “Germany has joined a growing list of countries that are abolishing pathologizing requirements for gender recognition, which have no place in diverse and democratic societies,” said Cristian González Cabrera, senior LGBTQ+ researcher at Human Rights Watch.