The parliament of Germany (Bundestag) has passed a new law to allow people who do not identify with their biological sex to change their gender registration easily.

On 12 April, the majority supporting the progressive government of Chancellor Olaf Scholz (Social Democrats) passed the law with 374 ‘yes’ votes and 251 ‘no’.

From 1 November on, no psychological reports will be needed to show that there is a medical situation of gender dysphoria. A personal declaration will be enough to officially change one’s gender in the official registries.

It will also be possible to register one's gender as 'diverse'.

14-year-olds with parental consent

Teenagers aged 14 or more will be allowed to change their gender registration if their parents give their consent. Those between 5 and 14 can do it if it is their parents who make the legal declaration. Under the age of 5, parents are free to decide on the gender of their children.

The new law also stipulates fines of up to 10,000 euros for anyone who addresses a transgender person using a name that refers to their former gender.

Owners of businesses operating spaces such as women's gyms will be able to decide who has access to their facilities.

This new “Self-Determination Act” replaces the “Transsexuals Act” of 1981. The government representatives said the law ends “state paternalism” and allows the human rights of transgender and queer people to be better respected.

“Dangerous madness”

Tthe Christian Democrats CDU, main party of the opposition, said “minors, without proper consultation, could choose a path they might regret later on”.

Others, according to German news website Pro Medien Magazin, lamented that “gender is being turned from a biological fact into a matter of emotion”. To assert gender self-determination is to facilitate a “dangerous madness” that recent research in Europe shows to be related to harmful attitudes affecting girls, especially, they added.

Parliamentarians opposing the law also call to guarantee the freedom of speech of citizens who disagree with ‘trans’ and ‘queer’ theories.

A political trend in Europe

With this move, Germany follows other European countries.

Finland approved gender self-identification in January 2023, only weeks after Spain and Scotland passed their own 'trans laws'.

In July 2023, ministers of 16 countries in the European Union signed an agreement to promote transgender policies.

A survey has shown that members of the Generation Z are twice as likely as Millennials to identify as transgender.