The number of declarations to change gender markers has declined sharply in recent months in Hamburg. Since the Self-Determination Act took effect on November 1, 2024, through the end of September this year, 1,258 applications have been filed with the civil registries, according to the Harburg district office. By contrast, according to earlier statements from the Senate, 914 declarations had already been submitted by September 30 of the previous year. That means that over the following twelve months only 344 more were added.
In the first eleven months after the act took effect, the Altona district recorded the most declarations at 240, while Bergedorf had the fewest at 72. In the following twelve months, Eimsbüttel led with 121 changes, while Bergedorf again registered the fewest at 17. The steepest decline was seen in the Mitte district, where the number dropped from 114 to 19.
The Self-Determination Act provides that a person can change their gender marker and first name simply by filing a declaration in the civil status register. The declaration must be submitted at least three months in advance. For the gender-entry change to take effect, the civil registry office in the place of birth must carry out the modification. A court ruling is no longer required.
