40 gender changes since new law

40 people have legally changed their gender since the recent introduction of a new law that removed the need for people to undergo sex reassignment surgery before changing their official documentation so as to reflect their gender.

Responding to a parliamentary question by Labour MP Etienne Grech on Wednesday, home affairs minister Carmelo Abela said that all 40 ID cards were changed accordingly.

The new law, enacted in April, has also given people the choice of not declaring their sex or gender identity on identification documents through the introduction of an ‘X’ marker.

The law is widely considered to be one of the world’s most progressive legislations on gender identity and has helped propel Malta to first place in the International Lesbian-Gay Association’s rankings for LGBTIQ rights in Europe.