Spain approves bill on easier legal gender change for trans youth

Protesters gathered to support the bill approved by Spain's Cabinet. Photo Guillermo Gutierrez Carrascal/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
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Spain’s Cabinet approved a draft of a transgender bill on June 27, 2022. If the bill goes through parliament, trans teenagers as young as 16 will be able to change their gender freely while minors 12 years of age may do so with a judge’s authorization.

With this draft, anyone over 14 can legally change their gender without a medical diagnosis or hormone replacement therapy. The bill removes the requirement for two years of hormone therapy and a psychological assessment to change genders.

This “self-ID” bill sets age limits to 14 to 16-year-olds, which will require parental permission. In May a proposal was made to allow children total freedom to legally change their gender which parliament rejected.

The bill also includes the right for non-Spaniards residing in Spain to change their name and gender in documents issued by Spanish authorities, only if their rights are not guaranteed in their home countries.

“This is a historic day after more than 15 years without any legislative progress, We send a strong message for the protection of LGBT people,” Equality Minister Irene Montero said at a press conference.

With the approval of this bill by parliament, Spain would become the largest European country to introduce self-identification. Trans individuals would then be able to legally change their gender by filling out a form at a registry office and then confirming the decision after three months.

About Korina Estrada 206 Articles
A writer and an advocate of self-love and body positivity. She loves baking cookies, practicing her calligraphy, and creating short stories of local folklore.

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