Based on a recently approved law in Sweden, individuals as young as 16 years old can legally change their gender if they experience gender dysphoria.
Gender dysphoria is the feeling of discomfort or distress experienced by people whose gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth or sex-related physical characteristics. Symptoms of gender dysphoria include a desire to change primary sex characteristics to align with one’s gender identity.
In Sweden, individuals must currently receive a doctor’s diagnosis of gender dysphoria to change their legal gender. The new law streamlines the gender transition process by requiring a shorter consultation with a doctor or psychologist, alongside an endorsement from the National Board of Health and Welfare.
The reduced legal age for gender change law passed in Sweden’s parliament with 234 votes in favor and 94 against. It is set to take effect in July 2025. Individuals aged 16 and older can legally change their gender, while those under 18 require parental or guardian consent, as well as medical and bureaucratic approval.
However, the proposal faces opposition from right-wing factions. The Christian Democrats, part of the governing coalition, and the far-right Sweden Democrats, supporters of the government, both opposed the legislation. Many MPs within these parties expressed reservations, calling for further research into gender dysphoria before endorsing the law.
The leader of the Sweden Democrats, Jimmie Åkesson, described the approval as “deplorable” and criticized the decision for lacking public support.
Public disapproval of the law is evident in a recent poll conducted by the Swedish television network TV4. According to Reuters, 59% of Swedes viewed the proposal negatively, while only 22% regarded it positively.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson defended the proposal as “balanced and responsible.” In contrast, in the UK, changing one’s legally recognized gender requires a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria or meeting specific criteria, such as undergoing gender-affirming surgery and living in one’s affirmed gender for at least six years.
