by Maria Spiliopoulou
ATHENS, Oct. 10 (Xinhua) -- Greek lawmakers passed on Tuesday a bill which sets the framework for the legal recognition of gender identity change from the age of 15, Greek national news agency AMNA reported.
A total of 171 MPs voted in favor of the bill out of 285 deputies present in the roll call vote which was broadcast live on the parliament's television channel.
In particular on the article 3 of the draft law which outlined in more detail the conditions, setting the minimum age for the change to 15 years, a total of 148 lawmakers voted in favor, 124 against and 13 abstained.
The issue had caused rifts within the ruling two-partite coalition government, as well as within opposition parties.
Currently transgender people who want to change sex identity have to undergo surgery and psychiatric tests.
Under the new law the gender change legal procedure will become easier by submitting an application to authorities, without medical examinations, operations and psychiatric assessments.
The 15 year old threshold was one of the key thorny issues which raised the most objections inside and outside the parliament.
Addressing the parliament during the debate Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras defended the bill as an obligation of the state to ensure the right to self-determination for every person living in Greece.
"No tradition, no religion, no perception of family requires people to remain on the sidelines, or be pushed into an institutional and social oblivion," he said.
The Greek leader did not manage to convince some of his Radical Left SYRIZA party MPs and ministers, including Defense Minister Panos Kammenos, the leader of the Independent Greeks, the Right-wing junior coalition partner, as well as conservative opposition parties.
The government coalition has 153 deputies in the 300-member strong assembly.
The bill passed with the votes in favor cast by deputies of centre- Left parties.
Main opposition centre- Right New Democracy party opposed the bill as "irresponsible" counter proposing to increase the minimum age threshold to 17 years.
Citing reservations voiced by Greek Medical Associations and experts, critics argued that the bill created new complex issues in the future. Some doubted whether a 15 year old was mature enough to make such life-changing decisions.
Stavros Boufidis, a psychiatrist who took part in a protest in favor of the bill organized by the transgender community outside the Greek parliament on Monday, told Xinhua that he would suggest further lowering the age threshold to 13.
"Usually at the beginning of puberty hormone therapy starts. If along the hormone therapy process we launch the legal procedure of changing gender identity the teenager or child will avoid bullying and racism at school," he said.
"The legal recognition of gender identity without delays will facilitate trans persons to integrate easier in the labor market and society in general," he stressed.
Lee was born a girl. From elementary school he felt like a boy. He came out to his family, friends and classmates at 17. In a short video posted on his personal social media account he explained what it was like.
"They started ignoring me because they obviously were scared. There is so much transphobia," he said about his classmates.
"Elderly people with conservative views, good hearted, but you can understand," he said recalling the reaction of his teachers at school and college. "The bigger problems I faced were within the family circle," he underlined.
Trans activist Antogoni Mouranou introduced herself during Monday's demonstration as a human being.
She told Xinhua that the community and their families have waited for this law for many years. She hopes that it will help eliminate discriminations and make everyday life easier.
"Simple things which are non issues for the average person are a nightmare for us. I am talking about opening a bank account and renting a house to showing up at a public service office or seeking treatment in a hospital. We have so many problems," she explained. All of them start from the fact that her appearance is not "compatible" with the gender identity written on her identity card and passport.
"For trans persons this is a great day," she said.
