Sweden votes on decreasing gender reassignment age amid controversy | EUROtoday
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Sweden was the primary nation to introduce authorized gender reassignment in 1972, however a proposal to decrease the minimal age from 18 to 16 to be voted on by parliament Wednesday has sparked controversy.
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The debate has additionally weakened conservative Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson’s standing, after he admitted to caving into stress from get together members on the problem.
Beyond decreasing the age, the proposals additionally purpose to make it less complicated for an individual to vary their authorized gender.
“The process today is very long, it can take up to seven years to change your legal gender in Sweden,” Peter Sidlund Ponkala, president of the Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex Rights (RFSL), instructed AFP.
Under the proposal, two new legal guidelines would substitute the present laws: one regulating surgical procedures to vary gender, and one regulating the executive process to vary authorized gender within the official register.
If parliament adopts the invoice as anticipated on Wednesday, folks will have the ability to change their authorized gender beginning on the age of 16, although these beneath 18 will want the approval of their dad and mom, a health care provider, and the National Board of Health and Welfare.
A prognosis of “gender dysphoria” — the place an individual might expertise misery on account of a mismatch between their organic intercourse and the gender they establish as — will now not be required.
Surgical procedures to transition would, like now, be allowed from the age of 18, however would now not require the Board of Health and Welfare’s approval.
The elimination of ovaries or testes would nevertheless solely be allowed from the age of 23, unchanged from right now.
Gender dysphoria surging
A variety of European international locations have already handed legal guidelines making it simpler for folks to vary their authorized gender.
Citing a necessity for warning, Swedish authorities determined in 2022 to halt hormone remedy for minors besides in very uncommon circumstances, and dominated that mastectomies for teenage women desirous to transition needs to be restricted to a analysis setting.
Sweden has seen a pointy rise in gender dysphoria circumstances.
The development is especially seen amongst 13- to 17-year-olds born feminine, with a rise of 1,500 p.c since 2008, in accordance with the Board of Health and Welfare.
While tolerance for gender transitions has lengthy been excessive within the progressive and liberal nation, political events throughout the board have been torn by inside divisions over the brand new proposal, and teachers, well being care professionals and commentators have come down on each side of the problem.
A ballot printed this week prompt virtually 60 p.c of Swedes oppose the proposal, whereas solely 22 p.c again it.
Some critics have expressed issues about organic males in ladies’s locker rooms and prisons, and worry the authorized change will encourage confused youths to embark down the trail towards surgical transitions.
Others have insisted that extra research is required given the shortage of clarification for the sharp rise in gender dysphoria.
Deep divisions
“There is a clear correlation with different types of psychiatric conditions or diagnoses, such as autism,” Annika Strandhall, head of the ladies’s wing of the Social Democrats (S-kvinnor), instructed Swedish information company TT.
“We want to pause this (age change) and wait until there is further research that can explain this increase” in gender dysphoria circumstances.
RFSL’s Ponkala disagreed, saying the simplified course of was essential for transgender folks, a “vulnerable” group.
“They face a lot of risks… We see that the political climate has hardened,” he mentioned.
Kristersson, the prime minister, has defended the proposal as “balanced and responsible”.
But he has additionally admitted he wished to maintain the age at 18 however gave in to sturdy forces in his get together.
His personal authorities has been cut up on the problem, with the Moderates and the Liberals largely in favour and the Christian Democrats and Sweden Democrats towards.
He has needed to search help from the left-wing opposition to get the proposal by way of parliament.
If adopted, the brand new legislation would come into pressure on July 1, 2025.
(AFP)
https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20240417-sweden-votes-on-lowering-gender-reassignment-age-amid-controversy