Government agrees on easier gender entry and first name changes

The traffic light coalition has reached an agreement on open questions for the planned simplified change of official gender entry and first names. "As the SPD parliamentary group, we expressly welcome the fact that the self-determination law is finally moving forward," said the queer-political spokesman for the SPD parliamentary group, Jan Plobner, on Saturday. The “Süddeutsche Zeitung” had previously reported on the agreement.

According to this, trans, intersex and non-binary people should only have to submit a simple self-disclosure at the registry office if they want to change their first name or the gender entry in the civil status register. So far, those affected have had to submit two psychological reports to change the entries; the responsible district court decides. The procedure is lengthy and expensive and is criticized as degrading by those affected.

The agreement that has now been reached makes it possible for "the draft to finally come into parliament after months of debate," said Plobner. "Degrading procedures in changing a simple gender entry must and will soon be a thing of the past."

According to the report, the agreement between the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs and the Federal Ministry of Justice provides, among other things, that a gender change in the civil status register for minors under the age of 14 should only be able to be applied for by the person with custody. In the case of young people aged 14 and over and a conflict with their parents, a court should decide if the child's well-being is endangered.

According to the “SZ”, a period of reflection is also planned. The decision should only actually take effect three months after the application for gender change at the registry office. According to the report, it should be possible to change the gender entry again after one year at the earliest.

In addition, a passage on the presence of transgender people in protected women's rooms was also added. House rules should apply there as before, regardless of the gender entry in the passport.

The Self-Determination Act is intended to replace the 40-year-old Transsexual Act. Federal Family Minister Lisa Paus (Greens) declared at the beginning of the year that the self-determination law should be passed before the parliamentary summer break.

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