If it is up to NSC, it will not become easier for people to change their gender in their passport. That change in the transgender law was already hanging by a thread, but Pieter Omtzigt’s party now appears to be mobilizing a parliamentary majority to permanently scrap the bill. The fact that the party seemed to be advocating for the law in another room was a ‘mistake’.
The change in the law had already been declared controversial, which means that only the next cabinet would continue with it, but NSC wants to highlight that there is no longer a parliamentary majority in favor of the plan since the elections. CDA, PVV, FvD, JA21, SGP, ChristenUnie and BBB are also against: a total of at least 78 seats in parliament. The VVD can still join there. NSC MP Nicolien van Vroonhoven has asked the cabinet to withdraw the amendment, and says otherwise it will come up with a motion.
By amending the law, the government wanted to remove a hurdle for people who want to change their gender in their passport. If the plan had been successful, everyone over the age of 16 could have declared to the municipality that they were male or female, without a doctor’s certificate. It is now mandatory. Under 16s could have chosen an M or F in their passport with the judge’s permission. But that plan will, at the very least, be shelved.
“We are absolutely not against gender change,” says Van Vroonhoven. “But it shouldn’t be too easy either. There are real risks to women’s safety. In England, for example, you see that men are suddenly given access to women’s prisons. We shouldn’t want that.”
Supporters of the bill talk about ghost stories. “The House of Representatives may take a conservative turn,” said D66 member Joost Sneller, “and abandon the pursuit of individual freedom that is characteristic of the Netherlands. Apparently the rights of all Dutch people are no longer guaranteed.”
‘Time ago’
While NSC argued against this law in one room of the House of Representatives, a completely different sound was heard in another room. During an emancipation committee debate, NSC was confronted with the fact that it was not covered by the so-called Rainbow Voting Box Agreement of LGBTI rights organization COC. Eight parties, including VVD, D66, CDA and GroenLinks-PvdA, agreed to stand up for LGBTI people. It also states that the parties want to support the amendment of the transgender law.
“Oops, it’s been a while,” said MP Femke Zeedijk. “We were busy setting up a new party, but of course we could have signed it.” Van Vroonhoven later clarified that this was a mistake. “It is true that we decided during the campaign not to sign any agreements at all, but we did not sign this agreement because of advocating for the amendment of the transgender law. My colleague this morning had not realized that this was in it. We are certainly not against transgender people, but a rigorous step is not necessary now.”
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Tags: NSC pulls plug amendment transgender law changing gender passport shouldnt easy Politics
