Spain’s legislators approve gender self-identification reforms

Transgender rights groups say the proposed law represents a welcome shift, but some feminist activists are opposed to the reforms [Paul White/AP]

Spain’s lower house of parliament has passed a law allowing people over the age of 16 to change their legally registered gender without any medical supervision, putting the country on track to become one of the first few to allow transgender people to change their status with a simple declaration.

The bill was approved on Thursday by 188 legislators, with 150 voting against it, and will now move to the Senate. If it is left unchanged, as expected, it will become law within weeks.