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Romania infringed on transgender man's rights, EU's leading court guidelines

The refusal of Romanian authorities to acknowledge the gender identity of a. BritishRomanian transgender man infringed on his rights and. contravened European law, the European Union's top court ruled. on Friday.

The case, which raised concerns about complimentary movement and. citizenship rights under EU law, was raised in a Romanian court. in 2021 and described the European Union Court of Justice last. year.

Arian Mirzarafie-Ahi transferred to the UK in 2008 and acquired. his British citizenship in 2016, which is also when he started his. transition.

UK authorities offered him a gender acknowledgment certificate. while the nation was still part of the European Union.

In 2021, Romanian authorities refused to acknowledge his. name and gender modification, demanding he follow the lengthy nationwide. procedure and arguing the UK was no longer a member of the EU.

In an initial ruling on Friday, the European court ruled. authorities must acknowledge and upgrade the nationwide papers of. individuals who have actually legally altered their gender identity in another. EU member state, without additional procedures.

In that regard, it is unimportant that the ask for. recognition and entry of the modification of first name and gender. identity was made ... on a date on which the withdrawal from the. European Union of the other Member State had already taken. impact, the court ruling stated.

Romanian LGBTQ rights organisation ACCEPT, which has assisted. argue the case, stated the ruling sets a precedent for transgender. individuals whose gender recognition is not being acknowledged. somewhere else in the EU, damaging their capability to travel easily,. reside, work, study or vote across the bloc.

Socially conservative Romania decriminalised homosexuality. in 2001, decades later than other parts of the EU, but still. bars marital relationship and civil partnerships for same-sex couples.

A blanket ban on gender identity research studies was overruled by. Romania's Constitutional Court in 2020.

(source: Reuters)