A recent change in German law has allowed individuals to self-identify as a different gender, without undergoing medical procedures or providing evidence of a gender transition. The law, which came into effect on November 1, allows individuals to update their gender on official documents, such as passports and birth certificates, by submitting a simple application and a fee.
One individual, Sven Liebich, has taken advantage of the new law and changed his gender to female, registering as Marla Svenja Liebich. The 53-year-old had a history of right-wing extremism and was convicted of inciting hatred in August 2024, receiving an 18-month prison sentence without the possibility of probation.
Conservative politicians have criticized the new law, saying it compromises public safety and the integrity of official documents. Andrea Lindholz, the deputy leader of the Christian Democratic Union, argued that the law allows individuals to change their gender “at will” without any checks or balances, which can have negative consequences for the community.
Sahra Wagenknecht, the leader of the Left Party, also expressed concerns, stating that the law invites abuse and should be repealed. She cited the example of Liebich, who had a history of offensive and discriminatory behavior, and predicted that the law would lead to more incidents of men infiltrating women’s spaces.
Liebich, who was previously convicted of hate speech, has not publicly commented on his new gender identity, citing fear of discrimination. However, his appearance, as reported by the Mitteldeutsche Zeitung, is still that of a man, with a full beard and a baseball cap.
The case has raised questions about the implications of the new law, particularly in the context of criminal justice. A spokesperson for the Halle State Prosecution said that there is no automatic guarantee that a man who changes his gender would be placed in a women’s prison, and that each case would be evaluated individually.