Spanish Law Authorizes Transition ID Change Print E-mail
Government - The States
Written by TS-Si News Service   
Tuesday, 06 June 2006 19:00
Madrid, Spain. A new Spanish law could boost the hopes of transsexuals in Spain following passage of a bill that says transsexuals can change their gender listing and name in Spanish civil registries without undergoing surgery. A doctor still must certify the individual was born the wrong sex and has lived full time in their target presentation for an extended period. The applicant must undergo hormonal or other medical treatment to encourage the identity change.
 
"Transsexuality . . . is a social reality that requires a legislative response," said Deputy Prime Minister Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega after a Cabinet meeting.
 
Beatriz Gimeno, president of Spain's main federation of gays, lesbians and transsexuals, says Spain is home to 7,000 to 9,000 transsexuals people who believe they were born with the wrong sex. However, she emphasized that the number of those who have actually undergone sex-change surgery is not presently known. Gimeno welcomed the new bill, saying Spain was far behind other countries of Europe in protecting the rights of transsexuals. "It is good that we get up to date with regard to the rights of these people, who are Spanish citizens,"
 
Spain's state-funded health care system is run by regional governments. Two southern regions, Andalusia and Extremadura, pay for the sex-change operations.
 
Yhe measure follows previous passage of laws allowing gay marriage in Spain, opposed by the Catholic Church and conservative political opponents.
 

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Last Updated on Monday, 27 August 2007 16:18