Macron Criticizes Gender Change in Civil Status
Criticism of Presidential Remarks
During a visit to the Île de Sein, Emmanuel Macron sharply criticized several proposals from the left for the legislative elections on June 30 and July 7. Among them was a proposal from the Nouveau Front populaire allowing gender changes in civil status at the town hall, which the president described as “absurd.” This statement sparked strong reactions from LGBT+ associations and some members of the political class, including Macronists. Anaïs Perrin-Prevelle, director of the OUTrans association, expressed her shock at these remarks, calling them a manipulation of the fears of trans people for electoral gains. Julia Torlet, president of SOS Homophobia, also denounced this approach as transphobic.
Current Law on Gender Change
Since 2016, in France, changing one’s gender in civil status requires a judicial procedure. To modify the gender marker on civil status documents, one must prove that the indicated gender does not correspond to their lived gender identity. This process, deemed burdensome and intrusive by transgender rights associations, does not require medical transition but proof of transition through various means.
Read also : Why Marine Le Pen’s 2024 EU Election Victory is Alarming for LGBTQ+ Communities
Proposals from the Nouveau Front populaire
The Nouveau Front populaire proposes to make civil status changes free and straightforward, carried out directly at the town hall without requiring medical documentation. This proposal, submitted to the Senate by Mélanie Vogel, aims to simplify the procedure by avoiding lengthy judicial processes. The goal is to reduce the discrimination faced by trans people whose identity documents do not match their lived gender.
Position of the Presidential Camp
In 2022, Emmanuel Macron had expressed support for simplifying procedures for trans people. However, his recent statement was seen as contradictory. Some members of the majority called his remarks clumsy, while others, like Clément Beaune, called for rejecting any stigmatization. The association Progressistes LGBT+ also criticized the president’s comments.
International Situation
Several countries allow gender changes in civil status by simple declaration, including Argentina, Denmark, Spain, Belgium, Portugal, and, since April, Germany. Conversely, other countries, such as Russia and the United Kingdom, have recently enacted laws restricting trans rights. In France, legislative proposals aiming to limit access to treatments for trans minors have been submitted to both the Senate and the National Assembly.
The controversy surrounding Emmanuel Macron’s remarks highlights the ongoing debates about trans rights in France, underscoring both progress and resistance to change.
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