World News: Gender change became easy in Sweden, Parliament approved the law

Sweden’s parliament passed a law on Wednesday raising the age required for people to legally change gender from 18 to 16. However, youth under the age of 18 will still need permission from parents, doctors and the National Health and Welfare Board.

Gender dysphoria diagnosis will no longer be needed. According to medical professionals, gender dysphoria is the psychological stress experienced by people whose gender expression does not match their gender identity. After about 6 hours of debate, 234 MPs were in favor, 94 were in opposition and 21 were absent. Sweden’s conservative Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson’s centre-right coalition was divided on the issue. Denmark, Norway, Finland and Spain are among the countries that already have similar laws.

Germany also made a law

Last Friday, German lawmakers approved a similar law that makes it easier for transgender, intersex and non-binary people to change their name and gender in official records directly at registry offices. In the UK, the Scottish Parliament passed a bill in 2022 that allows people aged 16 or over to change their gender designation on identity documents by self-declaration.