Trans rights bill bitterly divides Spanish left

A transgender rights bill to be voted on this week has sparked bitter divisions within Spain's ruling left-wing coalition, pitting its powerful feminist lobby against LGBTQ equality campaigners.

The draft bill effectively simplifies the procedure for changing gender on a person's national identity card, allowing them to request the change based on a simple statement.

The law for the "genuine equality of trans people and for the guarantee of LGBTI rights" -- which will be put to a vote on Thursday -- is one of the flagship projects of the equality ministry which is held by Podemos, the radical left-wing junior partner in Spain's Socialist-led coalition.

If approved, the bill will move to the Senate and if left unchanged, as expected, will become law within weeks.

It would make Spain one of the few countries in the world to allow transgender people to change their status with a simple declaration.

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