Activists fear Spain's transgender bill is running out of time

Aslan Galan, a Spanish 14-year-old transgender boy, together with his parents Beatriz Moya and Jose Manuel Galan and sister Ariadna (not pictured), takes part in a protest to demand that the government stops delaying the passing of a law to make it easier for people to self-identify as transgender in Madrid, Spain, November 12, 2022. "We knew there was something going on. He has always been a very good student, but his grades were dropping, he was moody and keeping to himself. At first we thought he might be a lesbian and was afraid to come out, but he wouldn't tell us. He confided to his sister first and a year later he told us he was transgender", Aslan's mother Beatriz Moya says. REUTERS/Susana Vera

Activists in Spain are concerned time is running out to pass a law that would make it easier for people to self-identify as transgender, as its progress through parliament is slowed by heated debate.

Lawmakers voted on Thursday evening to take a draft law to a plenary session of the parliament for debate. The bill would allow people to change their gender on identification documents without the need for psychological or other medical appraisals from the age of 14.