Sweden came one step closer over the weekend to ending the forced sterilization of its transgender citizens when the conservative Christian Democratic Party agreed to a repeal of the brutal practice.
Part of the Swedish legal code since 1972, the law forces Swedes wishing to legally change their gender on national documentation to undergo surgical procedures that render them infertile.
Activists have worked for years to get the statute repealed but Christian Democrats—currently part of Sweden’s governing coalition— have long resisted.
But after more than 77,000 people signed an AllOut.org petition to end the practice the CDP caved and, on Saturday, announced its support for a repeal.
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The AllOut.org effort featured a powerful video by Love Georg Elfvelin (above), a 21-year-old trans man, and was reportedly the largest ever online campaign for transgender rights.
The compulsory-sterilization law is expected to be formally abolished in the coming months.
“This is an incredible news for Sweden,” said Ulrika Westerlund, President of the Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights. “It means that anyone will be able to have their true identity recognized without having to be sterilized.”
Sweden is far from alone in requiring sterilization as part of sex reassignment: The Council of Europe identifies nearly 30 member countries with such conditions on the books, including France, Denmark, and the Netherlands. Several U.S. states also demand it. Recently, Italy and Germany have overturned similar laws.
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DenverBarbie
Forcing sterilization upon a boy who looks like !that! should be a crime.
nik
i’m shocked.
does this really happen? what the hell! its inhuman and barbaric!
Aiden
Good for them. Happy to hear it.
Mike
Wait, doesnt getting sex reassignment surgery make you sterile anyway?
D Smith
yes but being sterilized before treatment, not surgery… treatment (hormones excetera) removes the possibility of preserving genetic material for procreation.
TASTEY GOODIES
HERE I WAS BELIEVING THAT SCANDINAVIA WAS VERY PRO EQUALITY AND PROGRESSIVE. I MEAN, COME ON, YOU CAN MARRY A 15YR OLD OR HAVE SSM LAWS. QUE LA PINCHE. THAT LAW IS WACK. SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPEALED IN THE MID 70’S WHEN HOMOSEXUALITY WAS DEEMED NO LONGER A MENTAL ILLNESS. COME ON, SCANDINAVIA!! YOU ARE BETTER THAN THIS!!!!!
Abaca
How are trans people supposed to procreate if they are either taking hormones or if they have bottom surgery? I’m also confused as to why a trans person would want to use their “current” sex organs to procreate if they feel said sex organs are wrongly assigned to them in the first place. I’m happy that they will no longer be forced to be sterilized, but I honestly find trans men giving birth confusing and just a little comical.
Who actually likes coffee?
And for more good news: the Netherlands are currently working on a proposal of law to change this inhumane requirement too!
Phew, almost afraid we were gonna lose the ‘most progressive country in the world’ status to Sweden there…
Cam
I’m confused by the comments asking why would trans people want to procreate using their current body parts, etc…
Gee, here is a thought, perhaps they may want to freeze sperm or eggs, for use LATER in their lives to have children? Perhaps a transman doesn’t have an issue getting pregnant later in life?
Perhaps a transwoman wants to use her frozen sperm with a female partner if she is lesbian, or a friend or surragate if she isn’t.
The end word is….why does anybody care and why should that option be stolen from them?
Jesper
Also; please be aware that with a little luck we’ll have the Christian Democrats (KD) out of the government by next round.
They represent a really small percentage of the population and were the ONLY party holding on to this bullshit.