Sweden was the first country to introduce legal gender reassignment in 1972, but a proposal to lower the minimum age from 18 to 16, which is to be voted on in parliament on Wednesday, has sparked controversy, UNN reports, citing France 24 .
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According to Svenska Dagbladet, the vote on the gender identity law is scheduled for 16:00 local time (17:00 Kyiv time).
"While tolerance for gender transition has long been high in the progressive and liberal country, political parties from all directions are torn by internal divisions over the new proposal, and scientists, health professionals, and commentators have come out on both sides of the issue," the publication writes.
A poll released this week found that nearly 60 percent of Swedes oppose the proposal, with only 22 percent supporting it.
The debate has reportedly weakened the position of the country's conservative Prime Minister, Ulf Kristersson, after he admitted to succumbing to pressure from party members on the issue.
Kristersson, the prime minister, called the proposal "balanced and responsible." But he also acknowledged that he wanted to keep the 18-year-old age, but gave in to strong forces in his party. His own government is split on the issue, with moderates and liberals largely in favor and the Christian Democrats and Sweden Democrats opposed. He had to enlist the support of the left-wing opposition to get the proposal through parliament.
In addition to lowering the age, the proposals also aim to make it easier for people to change their legal gender.
"Today's process is very long: changing legal gender in Sweden can take up to seven years," Peter Sidlund Ponkala, president of the LGBTQI+ human rights organization RFSL, told AFP in a commentary .
According to the proposal, two new laws will amend the current legislation: one regulates surgical procedures for gender reassignment, and the other regulates the administrative procedure for changing legal gender in the official registry.
If the Swedish parliament passes the bill, as expected on Wednesday, people will be able to change their legal gender starting at age 16, although those under 18 will need the approval of their parents, doctor, and the National Board of Health and Welfare.
The diagnosis of gender dysphoria, where a person may experience distress as a result of a discrepancy between their biological sex and the gender they identify with, will no longer be required.
Surgical procedures for transition, as now, will be allowed from the age of 18, but will no longer require the approval of the Health and Social Security Council.
However, removal of the ovaries or testicles will be allowed only from the age of 23, without change.
Citing the need to exercise caution, Swedish authorities decided in 2022 to stop hormone therapy for minors except in very rare cases, and decided that mastectomies for adolescent girls who wish to transition should be limited.
A number of European countries have already passed laws that make it easier for people to change their legal gender.
In Sweden, as indicated, there has been a sharp increase in cases of gender dysphoria. According to the Board of Health and Welfare, this trend is particularly noticeable among girls aged 13 to 17, with a 1500 percent increase since 2008.
If adopted, the new law will come into force on July 1, 2025.