Concerns Voiced by LGBTQ+ Organizations Over Proposed Gender Classification Initiatives
The Self-Determination Act, a law that makes it easier for individuals to change their gender entry and first name at the registry office, is set to come into force on November 1, 2021. However, this change has sparked concern among queer associations due to the perceived invasion of privacy associated with the Federal Ministry of the Interior's plans to require individuals who change their gender entry and first name to fill out three new forms about their previous gender entry.
The Queer Diversity Association shares similar views, stating that the collection, transmission, and disclosure of sensitive information about previous gender entries and first names should only be allowed under strict conditions. The German Society for Trans and Inter identities (dgti) also considers this plan a massive invasion of privacy and a contradiction to the Self-Determination Act.
The Queer Diversity Association's concerns include the collection, transmission, and disclosure of sensitive information about previous gender entries and first names. They argue that a separate form with the previous gender entry highlights these facts and could potentially threaten the privacy and safety of transgender and non-binary individuals.
The Ministry of the Interior defends the requirement for individuals to fill out three new forms about their previous gender entry, stating that it ensures traceability of identity in official registers and information systems. However, the Queer Diversity Association finds it paradoxical that the disclosure ban is supposed to be ensured by an expansion of the storage and transmission of information.
Alfonso Pantisano, the queer commissioner of the Berlin Senate, views the plan as an "attack on our freedom". He argues that systematically recording individuals who have changed their gender entry could turn self-determination into a risk index, and state care into state mistrust. Pantisano also suggests that it is only a small step from the database to state persecution.
The concerns of the queer associations are intensified by the overall political climate where conservative parties have criticized the Self-Determination Act and have suggested reassessing it by mid-2026, raising worries about a rollback of trans rights and protections.
In summary, queer associations in Germany are concerned about the potential risks to privacy and safety from sharing sensitive gender and name change data with multiple authorities. They fear it may lead to discrimination, stigmatization, or even increase the risk of targeted attacks, especially in the context of rising far-right influence and existing societal prejudice in Germany. The Ministry of the Interior's response involves arguing the administrative necessity of keeping various authorities updated about legal identity changes, but explicit reassurances addressing the privacy and security concerns raised by queer groups have not been detailed in the publicly available information. This tension reflects broader political debates about transgender rights in Germany amid shifts toward conservative policy approaches.
[1] Source: Various news outlets and interviews with queer associations and political representatives.
- The concerns of queer associations extend beyond the Self-Determination Act, as they also question the policy-and-legislation surrounding health-and-wellness, emphasizing the need for mental-health considerations in shaping policies that impact the transgender community.
- In the midst of this debate, politicians from different parties discuss the future of health-and-wellness policies related to transgender individuals, with some advocating for the reevaluation of the Self-Determination Act by 2026, which alarms the general-news media and queer associations about the potential erosion of trans rights.
- As the discourse on policy-and-legislation around gender identity evolves, scientists and advocates for health-and-wellness and mental-health more broadly emphasize the importance of evidence-based and inclusive approaches, calling for the integration of comprehensive research and facts into the political decision-making process.
