Citizens who want to officially change their sex will soon be able to do so without having to undergo surgery, revealed the Danish Justice Ministry.
The current law states that transgendered people can only change their gender on official documents after they’ve had a physical sex change, but the government’s new proposal will allow anyone who feels they are of the opposite sex to apply without having to go through such a procedure.
The new legislation would state that any applicant would have to have a six-month period of reflection before making his or her final decision on whether they want to go through with the official change.
According to Equality Minister Manu Sareen, the proposal will mean the right for all, regardless of sexual orientation, to live how they want. He described it as a victory for Denmark’s transgendered population and for personal freedom as a whole. He added that it is necessary to allow legal sex changes without forcing people go through something as pervasive as castration.
Before being officially introduced, the sex change legislation will have to be passed at a parliament hearing.
It has been a successful few weeks for Denmark’s LGBT community after Copenhagen’s city council recently bowed to pressure and agreed to name an area next to the town hall Regnbuepladsen (Rainbow Square) in a show of support for the LGBT community.