STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN - Swedish transgender activists met with a representative of Prime Minister Reinfeldt today, February 14th, to petition the Prime Minister to take a stand against a law that forces transgender persons in Sweden to undergo sterilization in order to legally change their gender. The surgery renders a person permanently infertile and unable to have children in the future.
"Right now a reform of the law is being debated in Sweden", says UlrikaWesterlund, President of the Swedish Federation for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights. "But despite a major push to repeal the law, including support from 90% of Swedish MPs, Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt has stayed silent on the issue, allowing one small conservative party Kristdemokraterna to use its seat in the government to block the change."
AllOut.org and RFSL have gathered 47,689 signatures from European citizens urging M. Reinfeldt to speak out and break the deadlock.
http://www.allout.org/stop_forced_sterilization
"The Swedish Prime Minister has publicly called sterilization law a 'dark chapter in Swedish history,'" says Andre Banks, co-founder of AllOut.org . "Now he has a chance to close that chapter for good, reaffirm Sweden's international reputation on human rights and set a precedent in Europe where other countries have similar barbaric laws."
AllOut.org Members Weigh In:
"Dear Mr. Reinfeldt, Europe is looking at you! Make this shameful relict of a dark chapter of Sweden's past once and for all history! Take a stand and bring a government-proposal to your parliament!"
Richard, AllOut.org member from Germany
"Mr. Reinfeldt: Go and show them that the proud swedish heritage of respect for human rights can not be threaten for the narrowmind of the few."
Avilio, AllOut.org member from Spain
"Dear Fredrik Reinfeldt, Sweden should pride itself on being an example of governance in the international community. Please don't taint this reputation, change the law now"
Gorm, AllOut.org member from Denmark