Kids in Norway as young as 6 years old are now able to self-identify their gender, thanks to a recent change in the law there.
Since July, children in the Scandinavian country only need their parents’ consent to legally identify themselves as male or female.
Without the requirement for surgery, psychological intervention or medical endorsement, the process has been streamlined.
Anna Thulin-Myge is one of a handful of children taking advantage of the new regulations. She legally changed her name in July 2013 but was prevented from being identified as female on her Norwegian passport. She now expects to receive a new passport that will identify her as female.
Norway is one of just two European countries -- the other being Malta -- that allow children to self-identify their gender, although kids younger than 6 still require the backing of their doctor.
Norway’s health minister said the stories of people like Anna “opened the minds of the general population” to enable the change in legislation to take place. However, some critics said the new law was rushed through, without sufficient thought given to its consequences.
But for Anna, she’s just happy to finally be identified as the girl she always knew she was.
