German parliament to vote on making it easier for people to legally change their name and gender

By GEIR MOULSON
Associated Press

BERLIN (AP) — German lawmakers are expected to vote on a government plan to make it easier for transgender, intersex and nonbinary people to change their name and gender in official documents. The “self-determination law” is one of several social reforms that Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s liberal-leaning coalition government pledged when it took office in 2021. The law would take effect on Nov. 1. It would allow adults to change their first name and legal gender at registry offices without further formalities. They would have to notify the office three months before making the change. It would replace decades-old legislation that imposes more onerous conditions.