Transsexual Act: Something finally has to change!

Transsexual Act
Something must finally change!

© Daphne Channa Horn / Shutterstock

The outdated transsexual law is a hurdle for many of those affected. But attempts to abolish it have so far failed. The voices against are too loud.

If people in Germany want to change their “legal gender”, it is a complicated process. One problem is above all the necessary expert reports, which are perceived by trans people as discriminatory and degrading. For example, questions about sexual orientation, family relationships and sexual behavior are asked. “It has happened that people asked how often one masturbates or whether one has a: n partner: in,” annoyed Anne-Mette Gerdsen, a consultant for trans and intersex people in Schleswig-Holstein. “It would be much better if there were no reports at all. What does my sexual behavior have to do with whether I am a man or a woman?”

Expensive odyssey with hurdles

Above all, the transsexual law in Germany is one thing: rather out of date. It has been around for 40 years. “It is true that unconstitutional paragraphs have already been deleted, such as the fact that one had to be sexually incapacitated beforehand and also the obligation to get a divorce. Nevertheless, the reports and a judicial decision remain,” explains Anne-Mette Gerdsen. In short: what your name is on paper and which gender is noted is externally determined. In addition, the process is quite expensive – it usually costs more than 1000 euros. This can also be costly for the state; because there is the possibility to apply for legal aid if certain income limits are not exceeded. Thereby: very few of the reports are negative. Ultimately, they wouldn’t have been necessary.

At this point, our editorial team has integrated content from Instagram.

Due to your data protection settings, this content was not loaded in order to protect your privacy.

PRIVACY SETTINGS

Here you can change the settings for the providers whose content you want to display. These providers may set cookies and collect information about your browser and other criteria determined by the respective provider. Further information can be found in the data protection information.

The opportunity to finally arrive

For those affected, changing their gender and name is an important milestone. “Many say that they only really arrived because everything is right now. It is comparable to other big issues in life such as partnerships or having a child,” explains Anne-Mette Gerdsen.

Objection from some quarters

Why then do you have to make it so complicated and bureaucratic? Reform is urgently needed. But some opponents are cross. Including politicians and Christian parties – but also women’s groups. “They fear that people want to change their gender entry in order to break into women’s safe areas. They are also afraid that ‘born men’ will want to use women’s support,” explains Anne-Mette Gerdsen. You cannot understand this fear.

For comparison: “In Denmark those affected go to the office and are noted. After six months they have to come again to confirm that they still want the change and that’s it,” explains Anne-Mette Gerdsen. She is not aware of any case in which the low bureaucratic hurdle in Denmark has been misused for other purposes. She would like the process in Germany to finally be made easier for trans people.

Debate in the Bundestag

She is not alone in that: The Greens and the FDP have recently submitted an application that should make the process considerably easier with a visit to the registry office and an oral declaration of intent for trans people. But the applications were rejected. The CDU / CSU is against it, the SPD would like a different solution. The AFD speaks of a “gender-political madness”.

Nevertheless, Anne-Mette Gerdsen does not give up hope. For a better future for trans people, she generally wants more understanding for one another. After all, trans people just want to live their lives – not just tolerated, but accepted in their right gender.

Source used: Interview

Anne-Mette Gerdsen is in the clubs “Intersex People eV” and “German Society for Transidentity and Intersexuality eV” active . Those affected can find support and offers for advice here.