Spain approves self-ID trans law

Spain's parliament has approved a self-ID trans law. The law allows people to change their gender on identification documents without the need for psychological or other medical appraisals from the age of 14. It was an emotional moment for many activists, including Marc Embrole, who was watching from the gallery. Today, the Spanish state has paid back a debt it had with trans people because of the violence and injustice suffered either by omission or commission. While trans activists celebrated, anti-trans law activists protested outside parliament. Chanting the trans law is misogyny and urging equality minister Irene Montero to resign. The bill has been heavily criticized by the conservative opposition and so-called gender-critical feminist activists like Patricia Bilbao, who says self-ID puts women at risk.

They argue that it could be used by predatory men to gain access to single-sex spaces, such as toilets or changing rooms. We are here to support the rights of women as they are completely erasing us with these misogynistic laws, with the trans law being approved today. There was no public debate. They have not been listening to us. They have not listened to feminist collectives and they want to sideline us. More than a dozen nations, including Malta, Ireland, Argentina and New Zealand, already allows trans self-ID, according to a recent UN report, but despite the growing acceptance of self-ID, the issue is proving controversial in Europe, echoing fears and often polarized debate about transgender rights in the United States and Britain.

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