Spain Passes Draft Bill To Allow Over 16s To Change Gender And Name
Spain News
Published: 30 June 2021 15:07 CET
Over 16s in Spain are one step closer to being able to freely change their gender and name after a draft bill on LGBTI rights was passed by the country’s ministers.
The new draft proposals come after many months of debate between the PSOE and their junior coalition partner, Unidas Podemos.
If approved, the current legislation whereby anyone wishing to change their gender had to obtain a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria first, would be abolished along with the need to undergo hormone treatment.
The draft bill will still need to go to a public hearing before a further reading in the cabinet and a vote in the lower house of parliament before it can be written into law.
However, if approved, Spain would become one of only a handful of countries to permit gender self-determination.
Spain’s Equality Minister Irene Montero said the negotiations between the cabinet were “long and difficult”, however, she said the new legislation was “a giant step” and would guarantee the rights of the LGBTI community.
"This is an historic day after more than 15 years without any legislative progress,” she told a news conference.
"We send a strong message for the protection of LGBTI people," she said, in reference to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex community.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez (pictured) said that the draft law would place Spain at the “international forefront” on the issue.
"We recognise the right of everyone to be whoever they want to be," he said.
Under the new proposals, anyone wishing to register their change could do so with the process taking up to four months from the first application. This is a lot faster than most other countries that offer similar rights.
In England, there is currently a two-year waiting period. The application would also have to be reviewed by a specialist panel.
The Spanish process could be reversed easily within the first six months, although after six months would require going through the courts.
Those from 14-16 years of age may also request to make the change, however, parental approval would be required. It comes after parliament rejected a proposal from a group of political parties in May which requested that all children be given total freedom to self determine their gender.
Many activists and those in the LGBTI community believe that the draft bill does not go far enough, while some feminists associations oppose it.
Source
https://news.sky.com/story/spain-passes-draft-bill-towards-allowing-over-16s-to-freely-change-gender-and-name-12344973
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/29/spain-bill-change-official-gender-without-medical-checks
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/spains-government-approves-first-draft-gender-self-identification-bill-2021-06-29/
Image Credit: La Moncloa
