Transsexuals Act (Germany)
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| Transsexuals Act German: Transsexuellengesetz | |
|---|---|
| |
| Territorial extent | Whole of Germany |
| Enacted | 10 September 1980 |
| Commenced | 1 January 1981 |
| Introduced by | Gerhart Baum |
| Status: In force | |
In 1980, West Germany passed a law regulating the change of first names and legal gender, the "Gesetz über die Änderung der Vornamen und die Feststellung der Geschlechtszugehörigkeit in besonderen Fällen, (de:Transsexuellengesetz – TSG) or, "Law concerning the change of first name and determination of gender identity in special cases (Transsexual law – TSG)". Since 1990, following the reunification of East and West Germany, it applies to all of Germany.
To change either name or gender, two independent medical court experts have to be commissioned by the judge. They are asked to evaluate, whether
- the person "does not identify with the birth-assigned sex/gender,[1] but with the other one",[2] and
- "feels a compulsion to live according to his/her ideas for at least three years",[2] and
- it is to be assumed with high probability, that the feeling of belonging to the other sex/gender[1] is not going to change".[2][citation needed]
Details
[edit]Name changes
[edit]One can either obtain a change of name alone, and proceed later with a change of legal gender, if possible or desired, or obtain both in a single legal procedure.[citation needed]
The name change becomes legally void if a child of the trans person is born more than 300 days after the name change.[3]
Several court decisions have further specified several matters. For example, a person with only a name change has the right to be called "Herr" or "Frau" (Mr. or Ms.) according to their first name, not their legal gender; similarly, documents have to be issued reflecting their actual gender identity, not legal gender. Job references, certifications and similar from the time before the change of name may be reissued with the new name, so effectively there is no way for a new employer to learn about the change of name and/or legal gender. Also, people with only a name change do not have to divulge their legal gender to employers.[citation needed]
A name change is registered as previous last names in the resident registration (German "Melderegister").[4] It is also registered in the Federal Central Tax Office as previous last names with the Tax Identification Number.[5] Based on the previous last names there can be seen the previous gender.
References
[edit]- ^ a b The German word Geschlecht (the teminology used in the law) can be translated as either "sex" or "gender".
- ^ a b c "Bundesverfassungsgericht - Presse - Voraussetzungen für die rechtliche Anerkennung von Transsexuellen nach § 8 Abs. 1 Nr. 3 und 4 Transsexuellengesetz verfassungswidrig". www.bundesverfassungsgericht.de. Retrieved 2019-02-06.
- ^ "BGBl. I S. 1654" (PDF) (in German). Bundesansieger Verlag. Retrieved 17 May 2015.
- ^ "§ 3 BMG - Einzelnorm". www.gesetze-im-internet.de. Retrieved 2022-05-28.
- ^ "BZSt - tax identification number". www.bzst.de. Retrieved 2022-05-28.