France Scraps Transgender Sterilization Law

French officials have voted to end sterilization practices transgender people had to undergo to change their gender status legally.

Until now, in France, trans people had to provide medical records showing their gender change was irreversible, a practice condemned as a human rights violation by the United Nations.

France is the latest country to adopt a law that will make legal status adjustments easier for trans people. However, they will still be required to go to court to file their claim, something trans rights associations are hoping to change.

In 2014, Denmark, Malta, and Ireland legalized more progressive laws that allowed gender changes by simply informing authorities, without medical or state intervention.

The new law marks a step closer to complete self-determination for trans people in France, who are still not registered in the annual census in their country.