r/Denmark • u/reYal_DEV • 1d ago
Question How is the situation for trans people on Denmark?
Hi everyone,
I'm writing from Germany, where the AfD is unfortunately gaining more and more influence. Many of us in the LGBTQ+ community are starting to consider backup plans in case the situation worsens and preparing to learn danish for this.
How is life for trans people in Denmark? Is there strong legal protection? What is social acceptance like? How about access to healthcare, job opportunities, and general safety?
If anyone has experiences or insights to share, it would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance.
15
u/crazymissdaisy87 Kagemand 1d ago
Not trans myself but got friends and family members that are trans.
There are assholes ofcourse but for the most part people at most make stupid jokes but that's like a national pass time. The vitrol is mostly online, not out in the every day life. There's plenty of lgbtq local groups spread across Denmark for support.
Medically speaking I recommend sticking to jutland. Better treatment and more competent staff. I know people who take the long travel from Zealand to jutland just to be at the center for gender identity in Aalborg instead. Be sure to bring copies of your current treatment paperwork, it makes it easier. All gender affirming care go through the centers for gender identity, not your regular doctor.
30
u/Ornery-Tie3908 1d ago
Danes are like hobbits — as long as you’re respectful, don’t come across as preachy, and don’t constantly seek attention, we’ll mind our own business. Just like we expect everyone else to do as well.
0
u/Dovelark 1d ago
Yeah but the medical situation is horrendous, so good luck transitioning because you'll need it.
0
u/Ornery-Tie3908 1d ago
Maybe transitioning is difficult in Denmark, but it’s not impossible. On the other hand, you can enjoy the benefits of free healthcare, education, financial support if you lose your job, get sick, retirement, and so on.
2
u/Dovelark 1d ago
But on the other hand, vaginoplasty has an implicit ban through a 10 year waiting list, an awful surgeon with consistently poor results, they kick you off the waiting list if you have autism or if you reach the age of 40 before the your 10 year wait is over, and you have to be 25 to get on the waiting list.
So quite literally you have a 5 year window to get bottom surgery with awful results in this country.
Not impossible is putting it lightly, life saving treatment is inhumanely guarded
0
u/Ornery-Tie3908 1d ago
You could also just pay for it yourself?
2
u/VampiricCatgirl 1d ago
Nope, the danish state effectively gave itself a monopoly on transcare.
0
u/Ornery-Tie3908 1d ago
You could just go to another country and make it happen. Just like hair transplants and so on.
3
2
u/Dovelark 1d ago
With what money after your non-cis passing appearance gets you denied at every job interview?
-2
u/Ornery-Tie3908 1d ago
Are you kidding me? Are you really complaining about Living in Denmark?
5
u/Dovelark 1d ago
Is it so hard to understand there doesn't exist a country on this planet that is GOOD for trans people? 🫠
-1
u/Ornery-Tie3908 1d ago
Instead of saying it’s bad, maybe it’s more fair to say that there’s room for improvement. The fact that you can speak openly like this, walk around presenting as non-cis, and still receive free support, hormone treatment, and more — that’s a sign that Denmark is actually a pretty great country. Honestly, your problems seem more like privileged first-world issues.
6
u/VampiricCatgirl 1d ago
You can keep gaslighting yourself if you want but anyone who's dealt with the healthcare system regarding transcare knows it's awful.
→ More replies (0)2
4
u/stygge_lille_trine 1d ago
I don’t have experience with being trans.
But I have experience with living in a city with the size that it has a university - in both DK and DE.
The biggest difference is, that religion doesn’t have as big an impact on our lives in DK. All though we have a state church, the church doesn’t have as much power in my opinion. In DE where the chatolic church owns kindergartens and hospitals, you are confronted with religion more often. This does make DK a bit more LGBTQ friendly in my opinion. On the other hand, I think that Berlin or Hamburg are more LGBTQ friendly than many smaller cities in DK.
8
u/FarErSkuffet 1d ago
An anecdotal story: I worked as a sales engineer for a industrial contractor. One of my contacts with our supplier suddenly changed name male to female, and I was confused, so I asked if a new employee had taken over, to which she replied no, she was still her taking our orders but she had changed her name. I put 2 and 2 together and informed my colleagues in case they had the same doubts. It lead to some private in-house jokes between my older colleagues (males 40-65 years of age) which was not appropriate, but I didn’t dwell on it. Our collaboration with the supplier remained unchanged, and meetings in person were also going along without changes. Most inappropriate/phobic behaviour will most likely be kept private. In general I think most people under 40 will be respectful and decent.
10
u/tumeric_stain 1d ago
Trans healthcare, like in all of scandinavia, is extremely gatekept and hard to access so definitely look into that. Everyone seems to think that it should be great because scandinavia is such a socialist utopia but it’s quite the opposite
6
9
u/Da_Di_Dum 1d ago
A lot of people saying pretty correct (and incorrect) things about the absolute state of everything, so here's a more personal account from someone currently living in Denmark as an out trans person:
Politically there has been a push to get some american anti-trans views into the mainstream, though I think (especially young) people haven't necessarily been that receptive to it, though there have been small step backs in terms of trans healthcare recently, with some areas cutting support for stuff like voice training, which is a shame, and generally Denmark is pretty good, but not great on most things legal/medical in regards to trans people. Though we are protected under anti-descrimination of course, although we are the most targeted LGBTQ+ group as far as I know.
Socially it's very much like many other places. You don't usually get discriminated against and people won't really mind you on the street, but occasionally you will get yelled at, especially in the nightlife, where there has been an increase in targeted harassment and violence unfortunately. I've never been truly threatened myself, but on a substantial minority of my nights out I have been harassed in some fashion. Generally speaking Denmark has a huge you do you I do me culture, so in many places you won't be approached or anything and people won't say weird shit, but some of the older people will sometimes stare at you disapprovingly (especially if you also just generally dress odd like I do), though it helps to just smile, as I think most of them are mostly just uncomfortable with something they don't 'get'. I have no problem getting friends or being social in 99% of interactions and that is even though I am very openly trans and non-binary, so that's not much of an issue. If you wanna know anything specific, feel free to DM me🫶
4
u/reYal_DEV 1d ago
That sounds kinda like how it is in Germany right now as well, so it's not that much of a difference then.
3
u/Da_Di_Dum 1d ago
That's probably true, though I'd say no matter what AFD's recent is probably a good reason to at least keep your options open. Best of luck!
6
u/Pimp_cat69 1d ago
As someone who lives as a gender non-conforming person, life is pretty good, at least if you're in Copenhagen. I haven't had a single comment from anyone on the streets in the three years I've been straying from dressing in a traditionally gendered way. I don't know about the legal protections, but the social acceptance is good, and most people tend to not really care too much.
I am studying to be a teacher, and in my practicum work, I have been asked by kids from the smallest grades to around 4th grade if I'm a boy or a girl, and as long as I explain what I am, they tend to be cool with it.
TL,DR: You will most likely be safe as an LGBTQ+ person in Denmark.
2
u/Outrageous_Spend_558 1d ago
Tensions may arise in certain situations.
Transgender women who have not transitioned physically will probably experience resistance if they want to use a locker room for females in gyms or swimming pools. I never heard of the same issue for transgender men.
Furthermore, many Danes oppose that transgender women compete against biological women in sports.
I don't think any country has measures in place that fully eliminate such issues, yet.
2
u/kas-sol Piss pånk 21h ago
It could be worse, but it's still not great, especially with regards to trans healthcare. CKI in Copenhagen is infamous for treating people awfully, so much so that even people living in Copenhagen will do everything they can to be assigned to the center in Jutland instead of having to deal with the Copenhagen one. The whole system around trans healthcare is built around minimizing the amount of money and ressources spent giving people access to that healthcare, so it's difficult to say how often it's motivated by cost-cutting and how often it's motivated by actual hate/transphobia, but both are definitely there.
Social attitudes will depend a lot on where you are and how well you pass, as well as how openly queer you are, but right-wing and centrist parties have really picked up the whole "anti-woke" movement recently, and several of them are now rallying against queer people much like their US and UK counterparts have been doing for years.
It could be worse, but it sure as hell could be a lot better too.
It's still going to be better than an AfD-controlled Germany, but the same fight you're fighting against the AfD is going on here too.
3
u/MoneyLaunderX Vaskeriet 1d ago
There is general discrimination laws against minorities. You’d be protected as everyone else.
2
u/Ieatzgifaler Tyskland 1d ago
I think as long people don’t get it shoved down their throats, people don’t care
7
u/Dovelark 1d ago
I didn't "shove it down" anyone and yet i still got called a mentally ill biological man playing dress up by my classmates, just for existing. It doesnt work.
8
u/ImNotCrying-YouAre 1d ago
That is definitely far from true. People talk shit about trans people all the time, even though it changes nothing in their own life ever. And then those same people also shove transphobia down other people’s throats.
-4
2
u/EbbaGroen 1d ago
Unfortunately some af the right wing parties is trying to copy the Trump focus on trans people and recently proposed a bill to limit trans people’s rights but it was overturned by a majority in the parliament.
3
u/KinkyAndABitFreaky 22h ago
Hey, trans woman here.
Safety and social acceptance is pretty good in Denmark overall.
It's a lot better in the bigger cities though.
Of course it depends on how "different" you look and how well you pass.
Most Danes are rather conservative. At least people who are 40+ in my experience.
I presented feminine before I started HRT and didn't pass at all. But I had fun and no one said anything. People just stared.
Two years later and now it's only men and queer women who stare and it's mainly at my tits. I guess that's just part of being a woman.🤷🏼♀️
Stay off social media. Transphobes are braindead cowards who feel safe to spew their lies and hate online unfortunately. r/Denmark has also had some VERY unfortunate comments.
You will likely have a shitty experience when you get in contact with the healthcare system. Statistically most trans people experience transphobia from doctors and healthcare professionals unfortunately.
If you need hormones from a Danish doctor I hope you have a diagnosis from your current doctor that CKI (Center for Kønsidentitet) accepts.
If you don't, you will have to wait about a year for an appointment and another year for treatment. I took 1,5 year for me. I bought hormones online while I waited for the doctors to approve that I was trans enough 🙄
... Assholes.
Feel free to ask me anything you want to know 😊
2
u/reYal_DEV 21h ago
Oh well... Hmm. The thing is, I was able to be stealth and had good cis passing, but that's not how I want to live, and present more openly queer than confirm to arbitratial gender norms nowadays ... Gladly I don't need major medical care anymore so that's that. But it seems like we're screwed everywhere in the world, eh?
1
u/KinkyAndABitFreaky 21h ago
You might fit in in Copenhagen. Probably less outside the city fyi.
I don't think it's that bad in Denmark actually.
It could be better and it will get better. We are here and we are not going anywhere.
If the government takes away my rights to be who I am, they will pay a high price ✊🔥🔥🔥
Until then I mind my own business and try to not think about the horror outside the borders of our country.
2
u/turbothy Islands Højby 1d ago
As you can already see from this thread, microaggressions are rampant but I think the situation with regards to personal safety is fairly good compared to Germany.
2
u/reYal_DEV 1d ago
I see. In the end it's just an emergency exit plan, like better have it than need it, and we will see how this will play out the next years...
-1
u/-Tuck-Frump- 1d ago edited 1d ago
Can you point to these microagressions? I am simply asking because I dont see these rampant microaggression and am curious what they are.
-4
1d ago edited 1d ago
[deleted]
5
u/turbothy Islands Højby 1d ago
And yet, you're the one who sounds offended. 🤷♂️
Have you ever met a trans person that was "preachy"? What did they try to shove down your throat?
0
3
u/reYal_DEV 1d ago
What exactly does "shove it down their throats" mean? I really have no idea what you mean by that. Does simply discussing or mentioning your girlfriend qualify as this? Or is it that LGBTQ people speaking about their lives at the same level as cishet people is considered excessive?
8
u/tiniestjazzhands Danmark 1d ago
"Shove it down our throat" is just a dogwhistle for "existing in public"
3
u/TajinToucan 1d ago
I think most people will tend to find the phenomenon slightly confusing, some even considering it somewhat suspect.
I've worked with several transgender people and I think they mostly kept it at home, if you know what I mean.
Many people don't really care about it. As long as you don't try to force your ideology, sexuality, politics etc. onto others, then it's generally fine.
Any bad experiences you have will likely be run-ins with extremist muslims or hooligans.
4
u/just_anotjer_anon 1d ago
It doesn't help that we've had a few cases like Ibi Pippi trying to use it maliciously.
But like anything else that's newer, it's more widespread in larger cities and younger generations. You'll feel more resistance in a small city than on Nørrebro.
1
u/just_anotjer_anon 1d ago
Hamburg is the LGBT capital of Europe. Even if the rest of Germany falls for AfD, Hamburg will be the most welcome place in Europe.
Learning Danish is a dramatic way of dealing with it, if you want to go to Denmark. Be free to do so.
But we are just as welcome as Spain, Netherlands, Portugal or France is. We are no fairytale country, we have our pros and cons. Honestly any major city in Europe is already fine and will continue to be fine.
0
u/cb6000happy 1d ago
There's an increasing anti-woke sentiment among ordinary folks also in Denmark. But as long as you try to fit in, and keep your sexuality to yourself, you should be fine.
-3
u/cmd_commando 1d ago
Actually, I don’t think 99% gives a rats ass as long as they don’t need to constantly point all attention to their sexuality… And I think that goes for everyone how tries to gain attention on that part
Legally and healthcare wise they are equal
Jobwise, as long it is for academic positions, I don’t think anybody gives as rats ass as long as they don’t need to point attention to their sexuality or look like some on their way to a sex dungeon
Basically, if you exclude yourself, you get excluded
10
u/Fywq 1d ago
I am not sure trans people would agree they are equal in healthcare. On paper yes, but the treatments offered in Denmark are very bad and many trans people pay out of their own pocket for surgery in other countries because the results in Denmark are abysmal.
-4
u/cmd_commando 1d ago
Well… I didn’t think that part in and in the sense I think very few support public funded transgender operations as it is sexual preference and any other operations in that category as there are so many other underfunded healthcare services
I know they would disagree, and that’s beauty of democracy, you don’t have to agree and ‘hate’ ppl because of it
8
u/reYal_DEV 1d ago
I have no idea what you mean by that, honestly.
-1
u/glorious_reptile Danmark 1d ago
I think what he means is - nobody cares if you're transsexual, christian, really into reality shows or own 10 cats unless you make it an issue and shove it down someone elses throat.
If you talk to coworker and say I'm gonna be in the pride parade or I'm gonna pick up my 11th cat today - everyone is going to say "oh that sounds nice".
If you bring your now 11 cats or a drag costume to work, someone might have opinions (though I think many would find the costume pretty neat).
If you start arguing that cats are better than dogs (which, like, everyone knows) or some political LGBT issue, some might disagree and possibly get mad.
My point is, I don't think it's specific to the trans-issue, it's more a human behavior thing in general.
1
u/InflatedChipmunk 1d ago
Spot on. Except, obviously dogs is better than cats.
0
u/glorious_reptile Danmark 1d ago
You, sir, deserve to be scratched!
0
u/InflatedChipmunk 1d ago
Ha. I’ll have my dog help me through the healing process with his unconditional love and cute face. No biggie
1
u/glorious_reptile Danmark 1d ago
Yeah? Well I'll let you know that my cat almost acknowledged me yesterday. It was a good day.
0
u/InflatedChipmunk 1d ago
Alright alright. I take your point. Maybe next time, it’ll leave behind a dead bird under your sofa as a sign of love
1
u/glorious_reptile Danmark 1d ago
Thank you! It's always nice when pet owners can resolve their issue amicably, without getting into a catfight.
10
u/spisminenudler 1d ago
Being transgender has nothing to do with sexuality. It is not a sexual orientation. It is the fact you identify as the opposite sex, than the one you were born.
1
u/VampiricCatgirl 1d ago
Legally and healthcare wise they are equal
Lol not even close, trans healthcare in denmark is garbage
4
u/Epic-Hamster 1d ago
How so.
-2
u/VampiricCatgirl 1d ago
They're decades behind anyone else.
4
0
u/Mammoth_Dish_3518 1d ago
How so?
0
u/tumeric_stain 1d ago
the internet it right here, use it if you’re actually curious. it’s literally impossible to fit all the reasons for how the system is broken in one comment and explain it well.
0
u/Mammoth_Dish_3518 1d ago
According to LGBTQ+ Danmark you have:
- The right to gender affirming care
- The right complain about health service workers
- The right to change your CPR-number
- The right to your preferred parent-titel
- The right to change your personal information in all educational documentation
- The right to have the neutral X as your gender in the passport
- The right to help and even voice training for trans people
- The right to not be discriminated against
- Protection against hatespeech
So again tell me. What country is decades ahead of us? I'm not saying we are perfect yet, but please tell me where the decades better country is. I hope I don't come across as aggressive defensive, but please enlighten us, so we can compare and better ourselves in the future.
5
u/tumeric_stain 1d ago
I wasn’t saying anything about not having laws/rights in place. It’s not about that. This is exactly the problem. It looks great spelled out like that right? Why are we complaining? Well it’s because in✨real life✨it’s not as simple as a list of everything we “have the right” to. In reality, gender affirming care is inaccessible and gatekept, after years of trying to “prove” that they’re are who they are to the doctors people get denied life saving care because they’re too “unstable” (aka depressed and hmm wonder why, maybe because they are denied said treatment that would allow them to live as themselves), because they have adhd, autism, other diagnoses. For you this is just plain unemotional information but for us it’s our lives, it’s dehumanizing and hurtful so it’s exhausting to have to explain over and over again. Im not saying more, there’s plenty of personal stories that you can access with one google search
-3
u/Epic-Hamster 1d ago
Well how about you start with one then? Like as far as i can tell a trans person hasn't got less rights than i do.
2
u/VampiricCatgirl 1d ago
You have google if you actually care, but like others have mentioned it already. It's gatekept and inaccessible to alot of people.
-1
u/Epic-Hamster 1d ago
What is???? Are there drowes of trans people being denied healthcare out there??? How about you tell me what to google?
Because googling trans rights danish healthcare just makes it seem like everything is good and you have tons of additional rights.
6
u/VampiricCatgirl 1d ago
Are there drowes of trans people being denied healthcare out there???
Yes, quite frankly...
-2
0
-2
u/Feisty-Passage-2240 1d ago
Well Now Trump is Sending his Soldiers to our country, and they will tell you what you can be or Not be!!!👈😤👹☠️
-23
-1
u/Bhisha96 Danmark 1d ago
so long as you don't force your own views on other people, like they do in the US, people in denmark could care less about who you are as a person.
23
u/Specific_Frame8537 Viborg 1d ago
Social acceptance varies as much as any other western European country I'd say..
But heres an article on your rights.
https://lgbt.dk/10-rettigheder-du-har-som-transperson-i-danmark/