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Sweden approves legislation reducing the minimum age for changing legal gender from 18 to 16

Sweden lowers legal gender change age to 16

Sweden’s parliament has recently passed a groundbreaking law that lowers the age at which individuals can change their legal gender from 18 to 16, making the process easier and more accessible. The law, which received 234 votes in favor and 94 against, is set to come into force in July 2025.

This move marks a significant shift in Sweden’s approach to gender identity, as the country was the first to legalize gender transition back in 1972. While some have hailed the new law as an “important difference,” critics argue that more research is needed before such changes are implemented.

Under the new law, individuals will no longer require a doctor’s diagnosis of gender dysphoria to change their legally recognized gender. Instead, a shorter consultation with a doctor or psychologist, along with approval from the National Board of Health and Welfare, will be sufficient. Additionally, individuals as young as 16 will be able to legally change their gender with the consent of their parents or guardian.

Furthermore, the law will separate the process of changing legal gender from gender surgery, which will still require a longer assessment and only be allowed for individuals over the age of 18. This distinction aims to ensure that the requirements for legal gender change are not as stringent as those for irreversible gender confirming surgery.

Despite the support from the ruling Moderate Party, the law has faced opposition from the Christian Democrats and the far-right Sweden Democrats, who have called for more research into gender dysphoria before implementing such changes. However, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson has defended the proposal as “balanced and responsible.”

The public response to the law change has been mixed, with a recent poll indicating that 59% of Swedes view it as a bad or very bad proposal, while 22% see it as a good one. Nevertheless, Sweden joins a growing number of European countries that have passed laws to make it easier for individuals to change their legal gender, signaling a broader shift towards greater inclusivity and acceptance of diverse gender identities.

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