France scraps mandatory sterilisation for transgender people with new law
By Darren Mew
Transgender people in France can now approach the court to legally change their gender.
On Thursday, 13 October France passed a new law allowing people living in the country to not have to undergo sterilisation to legally change their gender. However, transgender people will still have to go to court to legally change their gender.
In countries like Denmark, Malta and Ireland transgender people can legally change their gender without the need of medical procedure or the court. In these countries all has to happen is informing authorities of their choice.
In the past the United Nations has condemned the need for sterilisation to legally change gender identity.
“These are years of sparring that finally came to fruition,” Sophie Aujean, the spokesperson for ILGA-Europe network of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender groups, told Reuters. “There is no other population in the world that is asked to be sterilised apart from transgender.”
Although many activists in France are happy with the passing of the new law, many think it is still not enough as the need for court is still required.