Forced sterilisation of TS/TG and gender variant people in Sweden will be stopped

[Catherina]

Forced sterilisation of TS/TG and gender variant people in Sweden will be stopped


I wrote last month about the decision by the conservative Christian Democrat party government (along with the nationalist Sweden Democrat party) to retain a 1972 gender recognition law under which TS/TG and gender variant people who want to change their legal gender are required to be sterilised. The requirement was a violation of the European Convention on Human Rights, which is enacted as law in Sweden.

There was an international outcry at the loss of the opportunity to bring the legislation up to date: in Sweden, the law is only reviewed every forty years. Advocacy groups and activists from around the world protested the decision and an online petition to the Swedish Prime Minister received over 77,000 signatures.

Now, via Ulrika Westerlund, President of RFSL (the Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights), I learn that the campaign appears to have been successful, with the conservative party which was blocking the reform to remove the criteria apparently having changed its mind.

According to a statement in Debatt:

Everyone is equal here. From the Christian Democrats’ side, we have been clear that the issue of sterilization at sex change – as well as other issues related to children – requires careful thought and analysis. Many transsexuals are met with hatred and fear, in violation of the principle of equal worth of all – the hallmark of Christian tradition of ideas and thus the Christian Democrats. Therefore, it is our opinion that the requirements for sterilization at sex change should be abolished, writes Christian Democratic party leadership.

This is very good news indeed for TS/TG and gender variant people in Sweden who wish to change their legal gender, although the underlying issue (linking people’s legal identity to their medical status) remains unexamined.

—————

As a footnote, it should also be remembered that Sweden isn’t the only member state of the European Union requiring TS/TG and gender variant people to undergo surgery before they can change their legal identity. Published work by the TGEU’s TVT Project suggests at least eight other countries – Denmark, France, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Spain – where legal change of gender is contingent upon GRS/sterilisation or Gender Reassignment Therapy and we can only hope that these countries will follow Sweden’s example. (Note: the TVT Project’s list is not definitive and is subject to ongoing research and updates).

http://www.questioningtransphobia.com/?p=3982

via http://tigerbeatdown.com/tiger-beatdown-blogroll/


Forced sterilization? In 2012?

[hedgehog]

1. Any idea how much of this is common knowledge within Sweden?

Does this represent the view of the Swedish people? I'm trying to get a feel for whether this is an issue off the radar for most people except the TS/TG community and a small group of phobics.

[Catherina]

3. I don't know

I was so shocked about the forced sterilization that I still haven't recovered.

I didn't even know this was an issue in France and I'm half French. I'm fuming. Enragée! Furieuse!

Maybe Stockholmer would know?

[nofurylike]

2. thank you for posting this good news, Catherina,

and thank you for raising my consciousness of this!

[Catherina]

4. I'm glad it was good news

The whole thing was news to me. My consciousness is being raised too

[nofurylike]

5. now that you say it that way, i reword; that was true for me too.

i have had no idea, at all. but it is comparatively good news to find out by - compared to hearing as learning it would NOT be stopped.


thank you, again, Catherina.