The Swedish parliament recently passed a significant law that lowers the age requirement for individuals to legally change their gender from 18 to 16. This decision marks a progressive step towards greater inclusivity and recognition of gender diversity in the country.
Under the new law, individuals under 18 seeking to change their gender will still need approval from a guardian, a doctor, and the National Board of Health and Welfare. Notably, the requirement for a gender dysphoria diagnosis, which is defined as psychological distress due to a mismatch between gender expression and identity, has been eliminated.
The parliamentary vote in Sweden resulted in a 234-94 majority in favor of the law, with 21 lawmakers absent during the session that lasted nearly six hours. The Sweden Democrats, a populist party with far-right roots, opposed the legislation, while the Moderates, part of Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson's center-right coalition, welcomed the outcome as a positive reform for a vulnerable group.
The law's passage has been praised by advocacy groups such as the Swedish Federation for LGBTQI+ Rights (RFSL), with its chairman emphasizing the importance of this step forward in recognizing and supporting individuals who have long awaited such legal changes.
Meanwhile, in other European countries, similar strides have been made towards greater gender inclusivity. German lawmakers recently approved legislation to simplify the process for transgender, intersex, and nonbinary individuals to change their name and gender in official records. In the U.K., the Scottish parliament passed a bill allowing individuals aged 16 and older to self-declare their gender designation on identity documents, setting Scotland apart from the rest of the U.K. where stricter requirements remain in place.
