In a significant step for transgender rights, Vietnam’s parliament may introduce a new gender identity law to its agenda in the coming year.
Lawmaker Nguyễn Anh Trí presented the proposal to the Standing Committee of the National Assembly on April 10, emphasising the importance of protecting vulnerable populations and ensuring that no one is left behind in the nation’s policies, according to Việt Nam News.
Currently, Vietnam lacks any legal framework addressing gender identity. While same-sex relationships and acts are not prohibited, the topic remains contentious.
However, the proposed legislation would grant individuals the right to change their gender identity, request a gender different from the one assigned at birth, and choose their preferred method for gender-affirming surgery.
The Government has since expressed support for the proposed law in a feedback document, with Hoàng Thanh Tùng, the chairman of the national assembly’s legal committee, acknowledging the necessity of the law but requesting more clarity regarding its real-life implications and enactment.
The proposed law would overlap the 2015 Gender Affirmation Law still being considered by the Government, which is set to remove a ban on same-sex marriage and provide more rights for transgender people, allowing those who have undergone gender-affirming surgery to register under their new gender.
