Hundreds in Brandenburg Change Legal Gender Markers Post-Self-Determination Act

Hundreds of individuals in Brandenburg, Germany, have legally altered their gender markers since the implementation of the Self-Determination Act (SBGG) in November 2024. Official figures reveal a significant uptake, with 299 people changing their registered gender in 2024 and 478 in the following year.

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In the first weeks and months after the law came into effect, there were regular questions about the selectable first names as well as the procedure for registration and submission of the declaration.

The law, which took effect on November 1, 2024, allows transgender, intersex, and non-binary individuals to change their legal gender and first names through a simple declaration at the registry office. Registration for these changes began on August 1, 2024.

Data indicates that the majority of these changes involved updating the gender marker from female to male. Approximately 160 such entries were recorded in the initial months of 2024, with an additional 235 in 2025. Conversely, 125 individuals changed their marker from male to female in 2025. Entries also shifted to or from "diverse" and "unspecified" categories.

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Currently, most interested parties no longer need advice.

Despite initial warnings from some politicians, such as Thuringia's Justice Minister Beate Meißner (CDU), about potential misuse, particularly within the justice system, authorities in Brandenburg report a decline in consultation requests. A spokesperson for Potsdam noted that while initial weeks saw frequent questions about names and procedures, most interested parties now require less guidance. Potsdam alone saw 227 declarations submitted since November 1, 2024. In contrast, Frankfurt (Oder) recorded 27 declarations by the end of July 2026.

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Just in the justice system, the practical problems of the law are becoming apparent. This is about the protection of fellow inmates and the credibility of the rule of law.