Proposed Swedish gender law causing party splits

[Minahundaralskarmig]

I haven’t seen this being commented on elsewhere. Google translate from
https://www.svt.se/nyheter/inrikes/lagandring-om-juridiskt-kon-ett-steg-narmare-splittrar-partierna
Sweden may soon have a new gender identity law. An issue that splits the government and has led to internal turmoil within several parties.
The bill was adjusted in the Riksdag's social affairs committee and six out of eight Riksdag parties agree to send the disputed proposal to a vote in the chamber. Only KD's and SD's members are against - but the debate is not over yet.
A new gender identity law will make it easier to change legal gender. The proposal to change the law has been put forward by the Moderates and the Liberals, who are seeking support from the opposition after failing to get their colleagues on board with the Tidö agreement.

Neither the Christian Democrats nor the Sweden Democrats want to see a simplified process for changing gender in the population register. M and L see it as an important reform to improve living conditions and strengthen the freedom of trans people.

On April 17, the Riksdag will vote on the proposal, and then the Christian Democrats have requested and been granted an offsetting ban. This means that all members of the Riksdag must be present during the voting.

Hans Eklind, deputy group leader KD hopes that the Riksdag members who are against the proposal dare to vote against their party.

• There is every reason for individual members within M, L and S to try to stop this proposal.

He believes that several members from M, L and S have come to him and told him that they are against the proposal.

Splits both M and S
All opposition parties say they want to change the law, but in the Social Democrats the issue has still caused internal debate.

Among the critics is the Social Democratic Women's Union, led by chairwoman Annika Strandhäll. She believes that there is no answer as to why the number of girls who experience gender dysphoria has increased sharply in recent years.

In 2018, however, Strandhäll herself put forward a proposal to reform the gender identity law, which was met with harsh criticism, and now she has changed her mind.

Even the Moderates are divided. One of the moderates who openly criticizes the proposal is M-toppen Christian Sonesson. On Facebook he writes:

"It's time for more people in the party to step forward (...) At least if you think it's unreasonable that children should be able to change their gender."

And this is a major issue pulling the prime minister into the debate

The pressure is great on Ulf Kristersson after the gender identity law splits the party.

• I would have liked to see the 18-year-old age limit myself and thus not involve parents in the matter, says Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson to SVT.

Six out of eight Riksdag parties agree to send the controversial proposal for a new gender identity law to the Riksdag. The vote is two weeks away and the Moderates, who together with L put forward the proposal, are facing a major internal split on the issue.

Ulf Kristersson clarified last autumn that it is very important to him personally that this is pushed through. But 80 percent of the parliamentary group is against it, says an M source, according to Aftonbladet.

When Kristersson was asked questions about the new law in the Riksdag's question time on Thursday, his answer sounded like M had for a long time pushed the proposal that will soon be voted through.

At M's party meeting in 2023, however, the party leadership's line was that the current 18-year-old limit should remain - basically. The proposal that M is behind, however, involves lowering the age limit to 16 years, with the guardian's approval.

"Great respect for different opinions"
Ulf Kristersson said during the question and answer session that he has great respect for the fact that people can have different opinions on this issue.

• If this can help solve a number of social problems for people who are in a very vulnerable social position, then I have great respect for the broad majority of the Riksdag choosing to solve it in a way even where the government does not introduce a bill.

After the question and answer session, when Kristersson is asked about it, he tells SVT that, on the other hand, he would like to see the 18-year limit fixed.

M directs criticism
M-toppen Christian Sonesson is one of those who are strongly critical of the new bill.

• There is widespread wonder at the grassroots level about why children are going ahead with being able to change their gender, but there is also criticism of how it is easy to get away with new social security numbers.

He believes that the criticism comes from all different parts of party-active moderates.

• Both among members of parliament, voters, members, municipal councilors and sympathizers.

https://www.svt.se/nyheter/inrikes/moderaterna-i-krismote-efter-nya-konslagen

But but it's a 'British culture war issue'...

This is interesting OP. Thanks for posting. I shall watch out for the result.

Does anyone know whether this is a self-ID law, or one that makes it easier, but still has some gatekeeping, like the current UK Labour party official policy?

Great post! Thanks for sharing. One has to gaze in amazement about the strength of group think and social media in this. Suddenly the whole western world is bowing to the will of a tiny fraction of humanity and who benefits? Not the people but Big Pharma. It’s almost genius isn’t it. They really are evil in corporate shape.

From a related article, using translate

'This is what the new law should look like'

Today, a diagnosis of transsexualism and, in many cases, also long-term contact with gender confirmation care is required to be allowed to change gender in the population register.

According to the proposal, a medical diagnosis will no longer be required. Instead, a simpler investigation carried out by, for example, a doctor or psychologist, and an approval from the National Board of Health and Welfare should suffice. The age limit must be lowered from 18 to 16 years if you have the guardian's approval.

Interventions must, as today, be preceded by an investigation within the health care system and can be performed on people who have turned 18. For the removal of the gonads, the age limit of 23 remains, unless there are special reasons.

Several parties see it as an important reform to improve living conditions and strengthen the freedom of transgender people. SD and KD are against. The other parties are in favor, but within them there is internal division.

One objection is that gender dysphoria diagnoses have increased in the last ten years and that it is not completely clear why. Another is that the issue needs to be investigated more before a decision is made and that it could be misused.'

It's interesting the extent to which gender ideology seems to cause party fractures.

We've seen some of this in Canada around laws that are seen to oppose gender ideology causing splits, very nasty ones, within parties.