January 18, 2012

Sweden keeps forced sterilization law for trans people →

cassket:

Apparently my go-to back-up country in case the U.S. goes to shit (oh, wait…) of lovely liberal idealism isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. In fact, their law around transgender individuals seeking to legally change their assigned gender is pretty fucking archaic — but what’s worst is that they recently decided to not change it:

Members of the Swedish government have announced they will not change the current law requesting transgender people to undergo sterilisation.

A majority of the Swedish Parliament is for an abolishment of the law but a small conservative party is putting a halt to the change. […]

The 1972 law being kept in force states that a person wanting their gender reconsidered by the state has to be over 18 years old, unmarried and sterilised.

Transgender persons are also banned from storing sperm or eggs in a sperm/egg bank for future use.

So not only can you not be legally recognized as your gender without being sterilized, but you also have no right to have children — period. And the conservative party’s response to the obvious outrage? Here’s a gem of a quote to make you seethe:

Annika Eclund, LGBT spokesperson from Kristdemokraterna, the party responsible for the deadlock, has previously told Swedish radio she “doesn’t entirely understand why it would go against human rights”.

“If I as a female feel I am really a man and want to change gender, then it is pretty natural that as a father I would not be able to give birth,” she said.

Wow. I truly wonder what she did to receive her “LGBT spokesperson” status, because she is definitely knows what she’s talking about when it comes to trans issues. Obviously.

This is a straight-up affront to trans people in Sweden, and to the LGBTQ community and their allies everywhere. Do something about it. (PM Fredrik Reinfeldt’s office number is also +46 8 405 10 00.)

12:19 am • 55 notes • via I am the lizard queen.

Notes

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    What the hell is this shit?
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    To my Sweedish friends and internet acquaintences: I am so sorry. This is a truly awful decision, and I have hope the...
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