Watch TGEU’s new video on the nightmare of legal gender recognition for trans people in Europe

 

 

What is the video about?

For most trans people in Europe, it is either impossible or very difficult and humiliating to get a passport or other identity documents with their correct name and gender. In fact, 34 countries in Europe still do not allow a trans person to change their name and registered gender without invasive and abusive requirements that violate their human rights.

3 of the worst requirements are:

  • Being forced to undergo sterilisation and other medical interventions
  • Being forced to get a divorce (if married)
  • Having to receive a diagnosis of mental illness, despite not being mentally ill, or a “psychological opinion”

As a result, most trans people in Europe are not able to change their legal name and gender, or they refuse to do so because of the abusive requirements. This means that they have passports and other identity documents that don’t match their identity and appearance. When asked to prove their identity, for example when travelling, opening a bank account, renting an apartment, or picking up a parcel from a post office, trans people run into trouble. They may be forced to come out as trans, accused of being a fraud, and become vulnerable to humiliation, discrimination and violence.

It is not a surprise therefore, that 73% of trans people in the EU think that better legal gender recognition laws would allow them to live more comfortably.

The 34 countries in question are: Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom.

In addition, there are 14 countries in Europe that do not have any laws at all to allow a change of name and gender.

 

What is TGEU doing to change the situation?

  • We change laws: We inform politicians and policy makers about the problems with legal gender recognition and work with them to create better laws in Europe. Learn more.
  • We support the trans community: We work with and train trans organisations across Europe to help them create political change in their own country. Learn more.

 

What can you do to help us stop this trans nightmare?

  • Donate: Your donation allows us to continue our work on legal gender recognition
  • Be informed: Sign up to our quarterly newsletter or our high-frequency mailing list
  • Share information: Follow us on Facebook and Twitter (#TransNightmare) and share our news with your friends and networks
  • Volunteer: Sign up to invest some of your time and skills to support our work