Good news awaits adults who want the freedom to choose their own gender legally.
In the UK, individuals over the age of 18 may now legally choose their gender under proposals that will be considered by ministers. This report comes from a committee composed of MPs and states that adults who would like to change their gender may now do so by simply filling up a form. With this option, they won't have to go through a lengthy process of changing their gender legally.
As of this writing, the process of changing one's gender is still a tedious process. In order to get their gender changed, they would have to belong to a specific criteria, submit tons of paperwork, and undergo psychiatric evidence. Before the gender change is approved, it will be assessed by a panel with a judge leading it.
A similar change to the law has already been put in place in Ireland. This prompted 35,000 individuals to sign a petition that urged Parliament to follow the example of Ireland. Apart from Ireland, Denmark, Malta and Argentina are nations that have allowed individuals to declare their own gender.
The decision to allow individuals to change their gender by filling out a form has long been studied by the Commons women and equalities committee. They have been studying how well current laws operate and how transgender individuals are being discriminated. Moreover, based on their study, individuals who want to change their gender no longer have to go through the lengthy process of proving they were diagnosed with gender dysphoria. In addition to this, they no longer need to submit requirements that would support their application.
The committee will be publishing their proposal this month. Once the proposal is approved, adults no longer have to go through drastic surgery reassignment just so they can get a gender recognition certificate.
