Finland Has Passed A New Law Allowing People To Self-Identify Their Legal Gender
The new Finnish law allows people to choose their legal gender without going through invasive medical and psychological procedures.
![Finland Has Passed A New Law Allowing People To Self-Identify Their Legal Gender](/content/images/size/w1200/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/finland-gender-self-identify-law-trans-1.jpg)
The Finnish parliament has approved a new law making it easier for people to legally change their gender.
![at a pride parade a person holding a sign saying i love being exactly who i am](https://almostmag.co/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/gender-self-identify-law-trans-finland-scaled.jpg)
The new law will allow people over 18 to choose their legal gender on official documents without undergoing invasive medical and psychological procedures.
![people posing and carrying balloons in front of camera at a pride parade](https://almostmag.co/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/gender-self-identify-finland-law-trans.jpg)
Individuals can now use a declaration to change their gender on official documents.
The new law includes a 30-day “reflection period” in which people can change their minds.
![a couple kissed at a pride parade](https://almostmag.co/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/finland-trans-gender-self-identify-law.jpg)
Previously, people in Finland could only change gender after they demonstrated infertility or sterilization.
![people carrying sign and doing kissing face in front of the camera](https://almostmag.co/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/finland-gender-law-trans-self-identify.jpg)
The previous requirements were criticized by LGBTQ rights organizations as being designed to prevent trans people from having kids.
![people holding rainbow flag at a pride parade](https://almostmag.co/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/finland-gender-law-self-identify-trans.jpg)
The law passed on Wednesday Feb. 1 by 113 to 69 votes and has been a priority for the country, according to Finnish prime minister Sanna Marin.
![finnish prime minister at pride march](https://almostmag.co/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/finland-gender-self-identify-law-trans.jpg)
Human rights organizations have praised the law, but said they hope that it will also allow children to choose their gender.
![people smiling and celebrating at a pride parade](https://almostmag.co/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/finland-gender-self-identify-trans-law.jpg)
“By passing this act, Finland has taken a major step towards protecting trans people’s rights and improving their lives and right to self-determination,” Amnesty’s International Finland’s LGBTQ advisor said.
Finland joins Spain and Scotland in passing more accessible gender recognition laws.