Germany and Sweden join the list of European countries including Spain, Denmark, Norway and Finland where sex change, even if you are a minor, will be a mere bureaucratic procedure.
The German Parliament has approved the so-called “Self-Determination Act.” It simplifies the legal process to change a person's name and gender in the records. The Act also eliminates the need to submit medical reports to support the change of sex and the change can be made once a year.
MARTA RODRÍGUEZ DÍAZ
Author, 'Gender, youth and the Church'
It is madness. It is a madness that contradicts all the laws of psychology and education. Young people, teens, if there is one thing they need, it is certainty. To encourage them to doubt their own bodies, what they are, does not lead them to self-determination, it leads them to the most radical insecurity. And they are the ones who are going to pay the price.
The new German law dictates that, for minors between 14 and 18 years of age, the change must be supported by the parents or legal guardians. In the event that they refuse, a family court will make the decision.
Díaz explains this legislation undermines certain rights recognized by the Universal Charter of Human Rights.
MARTA RODRÍGUEZ DÍAZ
Author, 'Gender, youth and the Church'
Nowadays, the right of parents to educate their children is being questioned and increasingly undermined. But if parents do not have the right to educate their children, who has that right? The ticktoker, the State, the authorities? It is extremely tricky. The moment one diminishes that right the children are subject to manipulation and to the authority of the day. So, this is extremely ideological and tricky.
And in Sweden, the Parliament passed a law lowering the minimum age to register for a sex change from 18 to 16 years old. But they will need consent from a legal guardian and a doctor.
This would also make it easier to get a surgery to make the relevant physical changes.
MARTA RODRÍGUEZ DÍAZ
Author, 'Gender, youth and the Church'
It is irreversible and leaves a mark. There is no turning back. This is very sensitive. Young people, children and teens do not have the capacity to make life-long decisions. Therefore, they are not in a position to make a decision that is going to affect them for the rest of their lives. That is madness. That is madness that I think can only be justified on ideological grounds.
Díaz has worked with groups of young people, including transgender people. She points out there have been cases where peopke have backed out of the gender change process due to the hormonal treatment.
MARTA RODRÍGUEZ DÍAZ
Author, 'Gender, youth and the Church'
One person said, “It's killing me. It's killing me physically and it's killing me emotionally. Why didn't my psychiatrist explain this to me? He told me it was as simple as taking a pill. Nobody told me about the side effects.” This is a very concrete case to show that this type of process is often carried out without people getting adequate information.
Even the Vatican has commented on these hot button issues.The document, Dignitas Infinita, states that sex change “risks threatening the unique dignity the person.”
CA
TR: KG
