12-year-old children will be able to change their sex in the civil registry in Spain
After its passage in the Senate, Spain’s lower house passed the Law for the Real and Effective Equality of Trans Persons and for the Guarantee of LGTBI Rights, which will allow transgender genital surgery and hormonal treatments from the age of 16 without parental consent. In the name of this same law, 12-year-old children will be able to change their sex in the civil registry after judicial authorization.
Known simply as the Trans Law, it was pushed by the socialist-communist ruling coalition with the backing of LGTBI pressure groups (lesbians, gays, transsexuals, bisexuals, and intersex). The law passed the Congress of Deputies despite opposition from advisory bodies during the legislative process.
Both the Council of State and the General Council of the Judiciary strongly opposed some of the provisions of the law, especially with regard to the lack of protection for minors.
Prior to the passage of this national law, autonomous regional governments had passed laws on these matters beginning in 2009.
The Trans Law passed yesterday establishes the possibility of changing one’s name and sex in the civil registry at the request of the person from the age of 16.
Between the ages of 14 and 16, this change requires the consent of the parents or legal guardians. In case of discrepancies, a judge may intervene.
To make these changes on the national ID card, children between 12 and 14 years of age must have judicial authorization.
Before the age of 12, the civil registry cannot be changed, although the law stipulates that minors must be treated in their various environments in accordance with their expressed sexual identity.
In any case, the need to present a medical or psychological report that supports the consistency of a self-perception divergent from the natural state of each individual has been eliminated.
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