Trans people in Norway can now legally change their gender with just one form
A new law takes effect in Norway this weekend, enabling trans people to legally change their gender with just one form.
The new gender recognition law was debated and passed in Norway on 6 June.
Taking effect yesterday, 1 July 2016, it allows adults over 16 to legally change their gender with just a form.
The country previously required trans people to go through a lengthy process to change their gender, requiring them to seek medical treatment, undergo psych evaluations and provide ‘evidence’ of their gender change.
As well as drastically simplifying the process, it is also open to children aged 6 to 16, with the consent of at least one of their parents.
No reflection period is now required, gender will be changed on official documents, and the legal name change age will be lowered from 18 to 16.
Joyce Hamilton, co-chair of ILGA-Europe’s executive board, said: “This increasing trend towards safe and accessible recognition processes, and a model that empowers and advances the rights of trans people, is to be celebrated.”
Fellow co-chair Brian Sheehan added: “The Norwegian vote sends out a strong message to other European governments. Oppressive preconditions, such as medical interventions, psychiatric diagnosis or sterilisation, need to be consigned to history.
“The parliamentarians who voted in favor of self-determination today have set a strong example that their counterparts across the continent can follow.”
The US-based family of six-year-old trans girl Coy Mathis previously won a discrimination caseafter a school refused to recognise her as a girl.
