Transgender
Discrimination is forbidden
Belgian law forbids discrimination because of sex or sexual orientation. For example: for work, leisure, education, services, housing. This also applies to people who change sex.
Certain crimes (such as damage to property or verbal or physical violence) are punished more heavily if they are motivated by hatred against transgenders, lesbian women, homosexuals or bisexuals.
If you are the victim of violence because of your sexual orientation, you can file a complaint to Unia, the Inter-federal Centre for Equal Opportunities. For discrimination because of sex change or gender identity, you can file a complaint at the Institute for the Equality of Women and Men, or you can contact Transgender Infopunt. Transgender Infopunt can send your complaint to the right authority.
Report violence to the police.
Gender registration and changing your name
You can change your gender registration if the gender on your birth certificate and identity card does not match how you feel (gender identity). Changing the registration of your gender is an administrative procedure. You do not have to have surgery. However, you can do this if you wish.
You can also change your first name. You can also do this without medical conditions.
Contact Transgender Infopunt for more information.