Transgender rights

"We are the new normal." This was stated by the first transgender minister in Sweden Lina Axelsson Kilblom in 2018. She takes office a year after Belgium appointed the first deputy prime minister for transgender issues in Europe, Swedish television SVT reports.

Law changes submitted by the Justice Ministry, and approved by the government last night, aim to amend the Law on Birth Registry in North Macedonia, allowing transgender persons to more easily and without scrutiny change their gender identities.

The amendments that have yet to pass parliament for the first time note a distinction between sex characteristics and gender.

The European Court of Human Rights, ECHR ruled against Romania on Tuesday for failing to satisfy of two transgender citizens' requests for recognition of their gender identity and asking them to "furnish proof that they had undergone gender reassignment surgery".

The United States Supreme Court has allowed President Donald Trump to enforce his policy of banning certain transgender people from the military, reported BBC. 

The court voted 5-4 to grant a Trump administration request to lift injunctions blocking the policy while challenges continue in lower courts.

The four liberal judges on the court opposed the ruling.

BUENOS AIRES,

An Argentine tax official reportedly made a one-letter change to their name — and legally changed gender from male to female — in a bid to gain another five years of retirement.

Sergio, who was a divorced 59-year-old man, became Sergia under a law that allows a legal change of gender without undergoing sex reassignment surgery, the InformaSalta website reported.

Transgender representation in entertainment has made baby steps forward in recent years, but 2018 has seen a history-making giant leap, with two movies involving trans artists in the Oscars race.

The Greek Transgender Support Association filed a lawsuit against former Greek national football player Vasilis Tsiartas over his recent post on Facebook following the passing of the gender identity law in the Greek parliament. The support group took action on behalf of transgender activist Marina Galanou, who had reportedly received threats against her life.

Before she had even reached puberty, Anna Kouroupou knew she wasn't what her birth certificate said she was: a boy. But having herself officially declared female was a painful process, and one that could only legally be done if it included gender reassignment surgery.

Reuters covers the controversial gender identity change bill debated in Greek parliament pointing out that it has led to cracks in the coalition government of leftist SYRIZA and right wing ANEL, as some lawmakers from SYRIZA and all ANEL MPs will vote against an article that would allow teenagers to be able to legally change their sex as young as 15.

The bill for the legal recognition of a change in gender identity without the obligation by interested parties to present any medical certificates was submitted in Greek parliament.