The Times — European Commission Proposes Allowing Children of Any Age to Change Gender Without Medical Assessment
The European Commission has presented a draft initiative that allows children of any age to legally change their gender based on self-identification, without the need for medical or psychological assessment. According to the document, EU member states attempting to impose age restrictions on such procedures may face lawsuits and sanctions from the Court of the European Union.
The draft also proposes banning so-called “conversion therapies” aimed at persuading a person to reverse their decision on gender change. Furthermore, the document suggests defining LGBT rights based on gender identity rather than biological sex.
The publication of the initiative sparked broad reactions across Europe. Several human rights and women’s organizations expressed concern, arguing that such changes undermine the legal protection system based on biological sex and blur the distinction between “sex” and “gender.” Representatives of the UK-based Sex Matters Foundation stated that Brussels’ proposals threaten freedom of speech and the right to critique gender ideology.
Supporters of the initiative, in contrast, argue that the document aims to harmonize human rights legislation and eliminate discrimination based on gender identity. According to them, this will ensure equal access to legal gender recognition for all EU citizens, including minors.
The draft also envisions a Europe-wide mechanism for sharing “best practices” among member states to implement unified standards for gender recognition based on self-identification without age restrictions. National governments resisting such rules may be held accountable, as EU law takes precedence over domestic legislation.
Nevertheless, medical and scientific communities continue to have serious disagreements regarding the safety and consequences of early gender transition. According to the European Academy of Pediatrics, further research is needed to assess the impact of hormonal interventions and puberty blockers on minors’ physical and mental health. International experts echo similar concerns, emphasizing that the long-term effects of these methods are not yet sufficiently studied.
Thus, the European Commission initiative has reignited debate between advocates for expanding transgender rights and those who believe medical and age oversight should remain in the gender transition process. In the coming months, the document will be discussed by the European Parliament and national governments.
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