2026-04-012025/26:KU30 · p.30KUConstitution
Provision on Protection for Transgender Persons
Constitutional protection against discrimination of transgender people
What's at stake: The constitutional provision lists grounds of discrimination that the state must counteract, but does not explicitly mention transgender people's identity and expression. This affects how strong the constitutional protection is for this group compared with other named groups.
Case texts and AI reasoning are AI-translated from the Swedish originals; the Swedish text is authoritative.
What the vote decides
The question is whether the constitution's non-discrimination objective clause should now be explicitly expanded to include protection for gender-crossing identity and expression, or whether the current wording should remain unchanged.
Yes Yes — the committee proposal
The committee maintains its earlier assessment and recommends rejecting the request, noting that a 2023 committee on fundamental rights and freedoms has recently examined the scope of constitutional protection and that a government bill based on its findings is being prepared during the spring.
No No — the reservations
Reservation 18 (MP)
MP wants the constitution's list of discrimination grounds expanded to include gender-crossing identity and expression, and for the government to come back to parliament with such a proposal. The reasoning is that this ground is currently missing from the list, despite being intended to protect transgender people.
Summarised from the committee report. Party labels in the summary come from the report, not from the vote.
What do the votes mean here?
Yes The committee proposal: rejecting the motions (keeping things as they are).
No Backing the counter-proposal: reservation 18 by MP.
Abstain The party marks a position of its own that is not one of the two final alternatives.
The decision would have held
Explicit commitments that contradicted the vote: CCenterpartiet
Ja 272–17Ja 253–36
Counterfactual: the parties above are moved to the position their own documents explicitly point at, carrying their whole contingent present. Every other party keeps its real figures, including dissenters and absentees.
How the AI parties would have voted
For each party: what its own plan – election manifesto and party programme – argues for in this case, next to how the party actually voted. The AI can only answer Yes or No; a party can also abstain.
| AI | Vote | Confidence | Evidence | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V | No | Yes 17/0/0/5 | differs | confidence: high | not addressed |
| S | No | Yes 90/0/0/16 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| MP | No | No 0/15/0/3 | match | confidence: high | explicit |
| C | No | Yes 19/0/0/5 | differsagainst own programme | confidence: high | explicit |
| L | No | Yes 12/0/0/4 | differs | confidence: high | not addressed |
| KD | No | Yes 16/0/0/3 | differs | confidence: low | not addressed |
| M | No | Yes 55/0/0/11 | differs | confidence: medium | not addressed |
| SD | No | Yes 59/0/0/11 | differs | confidence: low | not addressed |
Committee proposal
The Riksdag rejects motion 2025/26:506 by Ulrika Westerlund et al. (MP) request 1.
Original (Swedish)
Riksdagen avslår motion 2025/26:506 av Ulrika Westerlund m.fl. (MP) yrkande 1.
Riksdag decision: The Riksdag rejected 83 proposals in motions on constitutional matters from the general motion period 2025. The proposals dealt with, among other things, questions about abolishing the monarchy, the state chief's immunity from prosecution, increased transparency in the court's finances. Other proposals concerned political communication, prohibition against anonymous or foreign party contributions, national lobby register and constitutional provisions on national minorities and minority languages. The Riksdag refers, among other things, to ongoing work in the areas that the proposals address.
Counter-proposals
- The counter-proposal wants gender-crossing identity and expression to be added as a ground for anti-discrimination protection in the Constitution. (MP) — Reservation 18
Plan vs actual vote
Every party, in chamber order: what its own plan pointed to, how it voted, and the reasoning behind both. Highlighted rows are where the two differ — but a vote that follows the plan is a result too, so the reasoning is there for every party.
The plan sees it as decisive to strengthen LGBTQIA+ people's rights in a time when authoritarian right-wing forces attack them, and wants among other things a gender recognition law based on self-determination.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan sees it as decisive to strengthen LGBTQIA+ people's rights in a time when authoritarian right-wing forces attack them, and wants among other things a gender recognition law based on self-determination. To add gender-crossing identity and expression among the constitutional discrimination grounds is just such strengthened protection. The plan also establishes that the constitutional laws shall protect democracy and people's freedoms and rights and that discrimination shall be actively prevented.
Original (Swedish)
Planen ser det som avgörande att stärka hbtqia+-personers rättigheter i en tid när auktoritära högerkrafter angriper dem, och vill bland annat ha en könstillhörighetslag byggd på självbestämmande. Att föra in könsöverskridande identitet och uttryck bland grundlagens diskrimineringsgrunder är just ett sådant förstärkt skydd. Planen slår också fast att grundlagarna ska värna människors fri- och rättigheter och att diskriminering aktivt ska förebyggas.
- strengthened LGBTQIA+ rightsdecisive»Vi ser det som avgörande att stärka hbtqia+-personers rättigheter i en« (party programme ↗)“We see it as decisive to strengthen LGBTQIA+ people's rights in a”
- the constitution protects rights»Grundlagarna ska värna demokratin och människors fri- och« (party programme ↗)“The constitutional laws shall protect democracy and people's freedoms and”
- self-determination about gender»också se en könstillhörighetslag som baseras på självbestämmande« (party programme ↗)“also see a gender recognition law based on self-determination”
- active work against discrimination»Det kräver ett aktivt arbete med att förebygga och« (party programme ↗)“It requires active work to prevent and”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan explicitly counts gender identity among the factors that must not determine people's freedom and requires strong protection against discrimination for all.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan explicitly counts gender identity among the factors that must not determine people's freedom and requires strong protection against discrimination for all. Adding gender-transcending identity and expression among the Constitution's grounds for non-discrimination fulfils that commitment for a group currently absent from the list. However, the plan does not state a position on the formulation of the Constitution.
Original (Swedish)
Planen räknar uttryckligen könsidentitet bland de faktorer som inte får avgöra människors frihet och kräver starkt skydd mot diskriminering för alla. Att lägga till könsöverskridande identitet och uttryck bland grundlagens diskrimineringsgrunder fullföljer det åtagandet för en grupp som i dag saknas i uppräkningen. Planen uttalar sig dock inte om grundlagens utformning.
- gender identity as ground for protectiondecisive»och trosuppfattning, sexuell läggning, könsidentitet, funktionsnedsättningar och ålder.« (party programme ↗)“and religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, disabilities and age.”
- strong protection against discrimination»Lika rättigheter och skyldigheter för alla medborgare och starkt skydd mot« (party programme ↗)“Equal rights and obligations for all citizens and strong protection against”
- equal value of all people»För socialdemokratin är övertygelsen om varje människas lika värde grundläggande.« (party programme ↗)“For social democracy, the conviction of the equal value of each human being is fundamental.”
- protection of liberties and rights»Skydd för medborgerliga fri- och rättigheter.« (party programme ↗)“Protection of civil liberties and rights.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The party programme explicitly requires that gender expression and gender identity be included in the parts of the constitution that address discrimination and participation, on the grounds that this would strengthen protection for transgender people.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The party programme explicitly requires that gender expression and gender identity be included in the parts of the constitution that address discrimination and participation, on the grounds that this would strengthen protection for transgender people. The counter-proposal requests exactly this. The election manifesto strengthens the conclusion through demands for strengthened transgender rights and stricter anti-discrimination legislation.
Original (Swedish)
Partiprogrammet kräver uttryckligen att könsuttryck och könsidentitet inkluderas i de delar av grundlagen som rör diskriminering och delaktighet, med motiveringen att det skulle stärka skyddet för transpersoner. Motförslaget begär exakt detta. Valmanifestet stärker slutsatsen genom kraven på stärkta transrättigheter och skärpt diskrimineringslagstiftning.
- constitutional protection for gender identitydecisive»Könsuttryck och könsidentitet bör inkluderas i de delar av grundlagen som rör« (party programme ↗)“Gender expression and gender identity should be included in the parts of the constitution that address”
- strengthened protection for transgender people»diskriminering och delaktighet. Det skulle stärka skyddet för transpersoner i Sverige.« (party programme ↗)“discrimination and participation. It would strengthen protection for transgender people in Sweden.”
- strengthened transgender rights»stärka transpersoners rättigheter genom en ny könstillhörighetslag, och införa ett tredje juridiskt kön.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“strengthen transgender people's rights through a new gender recognition law, and introduce a third legal gender.”
- stricter anti-discrimination legislation»stärka lagstiftningen mot diskriminering och se över rätten till rättshjälp i diskrimineringsfall.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“strengthen anti-discrimination legislation and review the right to legal aid in discrimination cases.”
The election manifesto explicitly wants to strengthen the discrimination prohibition and minority protection at basic law level and add more grounds to protection against hate crimes.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto · party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The election manifesto explicitly wants to strengthen the discrimination prohibition and minority protection at basic law level and add more grounds to protection against hate crimes. The party programme states that the party combats all structures that discriminate against people, regardless of basis. To supplement the basic law's list with gender-identity and expression is precisely such a strengthening of discrimination protection.
Original (Swedish)
Valmanifestet vill uttryckligen stärka diskrimineringsförbudet och minoritetsskyddet på grundlagsnivå och lägga till fler grunder i skyddet mot hatbrott. Partiprogrammet slår fast att partiet bekämpar alla strukturer som diskriminerar människor, oavsett grund. Att komplettera grundlagens uppräkning med könsöverskridande identitet och uttryck är precis en sådan förstärkning av diskrimineringsskyddet.
- strengthened basic law protection against discriminationdecisive»Vi vill stärka bland annat äganderätten, diskrimineringsförbudet, minoritetsskyddet och minoritetsspråkens ställning« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to strengthen among other things property rights, the discrimination prohibition, minority protection and minority language status”
- expanded protection grounds»Mer måste göras mot diskriminering. Vi vill stärka myndigheternas arbete mot diskriminering och höja ersättningen till dem som utsatts, samt lägga till kön och funktionsnedsättning som hatbrottsgrunder.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“More must be done against discrimination. We want to strengthen authorities' work against discrimination and increase compensation to those subjected to it, and add gender and disability as hate crime grounds.”
- all discriminatory structures combated»Vi bekämpar alla strukturer, formella och informella, som förtrycker eller diskriminerar människor.« (party programme ↗)“We combat all structures, formal and informal, that oppress or discriminate against people.”
- protect LGBTQ people's rights»inskränka kvinnors, minoriteters och HBTQI-personers rättigheter« (2022 manifesto ↗)“restrict the rights of women, minorities and LGBTQ people”
The stance rests on the quoted commitment in the party's own documents; the actual vote deviated. Click the quote to verify it in the document.
The plan states that no laws shall disadvantage people based on sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, and that constitutional protection for individual freedoms and rights shall be strong.
Plan documents: party programme · 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan states that no laws shall disadvantage people based on sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, and that constitutional protection for individual freedoms and rights shall be strong. Adding gender-crossing identity and expression among the Constitution's grounds for discrimination is precisely an application of these commitments. The plan also wants Sweden to be the world's best country to live in as an LGBTQ person.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att inga lagar får missgynna personer med avseende på sexuell läggning, könsidentitet eller könsuttryck och att grundlagsskyddet för de individuella fri- och rättigheterna ska vara starkt. Att lägga till könsöverskridande identitet och uttryck bland grundlagens diskrimineringsgrunder är precis en tillämpning av dessa åtaganden. Planen vill dessutom att Sverige ska vara världens bästa land att leva i som hbtqi-person.
- no laws may disadvantage transgender peopledecisive»personer med avseende på sexuell läggning, könsidentitet eller könsuttryck« (party programme ↗)“persons based on sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression”
- strong constitutional protection for rights»Grundlagsskyddet för demokratin och de individuella fri- och rättigheterna ska vara starkt.« (party programme ↗)“Constitutional protection for democracy and individual freedoms and rights shall be strong.”
- LGBTQ rights»Sverige ska vara världens bästa land att leva i som hbtqi-person.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden shall be the world's best country to live in as an LGBTQ person.”
- strengthened constitutional protection»Vi vill se ett förstärkt grundlagsskydd för vårt demokratiska statsskick, öka domstolarnas oberoende« (2022 manifesto ↗)“We want to see strengthened constitutional protection for our democratic system, increase the independence of courts”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan requires that the constitution ensures that no one is discriminated against and lists among other things sex and sexual identity, and it is based on the fact that every human being has the same inviolable worth regardless of such circumstances.
Plan documents: party programme
Reasoning and quotes
The plan requires that the constitution ensures that no one is discriminated against and lists among other things sex and sexual identity, and it is based on the fact that every human being has the same inviolable worth regardless of such circumstances. Adding gender-crossing identity and expression to the list fulfils this commitment rather than violates it, and the plan establishes that discrimination can never be tolerated and requires legislation against it. The plan does not, however, explicitly mention the ground, which is why the conclusion is derived.
Original (Swedish)
Planen kräver att grundlagen säkerställer att ingen diskrimineras och räknar upp bland annat kön och sexuell identitet, och den bygger på att varje människa har samma okränkbara värde oavsett sådana förhållanden. Att lägga till könsöverskridande identitet och uttryck i uppräkningen fullföljer detta åtagande snarare än bryter mot det, och planen slår fast att diskriminering aldrig kan tolereras och kräver lagstiftning mot den. Planen nämner dock inte grunden uttryckligen, varför slutsatsen är härledd.
- constitutional protection against discriminationdecisive»Grundlagen ska även säkerställa att ingen diskrimineras på grund av kön, ålder,« (party programme ↗)“The constitution shall also ensure that no one is discriminated against on the basis of sex, age,”
- listed grounds for discrimination»funktionsvariationer, etniskt ursprung, religion, sexuell identitet, politisk eller annan« (party programme ↗)“functional variations, ethnic origin, religion, sexual identity, political or other”
- legislation against discrimination»lagstiftning mot diskriminering.« (party programme ↗)“legislation against discrimination.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan wishes the Swedish constitution to have a clear catalogue of freedoms and rights and that protection of citizens' freedoms and rights be strengthened, with courts guaranteeing that the majority can never do as it pleases against the minority.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan wishes the Swedish constitution to have a clear catalogue of freedoms and rights and that protection of citizens' freedoms and rights be strengthened, with courts guaranteeing that the majority can never do as it pleases against the minority. The plan explicitly counts gender identity as a protected ground when it prohibits conversion therapy. Adding gender-diverse identity and expression among the constitution's discrimination grounds thereby aligns with the plan.
Original (Swedish)
Planen vill att den svenska grundlagen ska ha en tydlig katalog av fri- och rättigheter och att skyddet för medborgarnas fri- och rättigheter stärks, med domstolar som garanterar att majoriteten aldrig gör vad den vill mot minoriteten. Planen räknar uttryckligen könsidentitet som en skyddsvärd grund när den förbjuder konverteringsterapi. Att lägga till könsöverskridande identitet och uttryck bland grundlagens diskrimineringsgrunder ligger därför i linje med planen.
- clear rights cataloguedecisive»Vår svenska grundlag ska ha en tydlig katalog av fri- och rättigheter.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Our Swedish constitution shall have a clear catalogue of freedoms and rights.”
- protection for gender identity»Förbjuda konverteringsterapi, som syftar till att ändra en individs sexuella läggning eller könsidentitet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Prohibit conversion therapy, which aims to change an individual's sexual orientation or gender identity”
- strengthened rights protection»Stärka domstolarnas oberoende och skyddet för medborgarnas fri- och rättigheter« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen courts' independence and protection of citizens' freedoms and rights”
- minority protection»Majoriteten får aldrig göra vad den vill mot minoriteten.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“The majority can never do as it pleases against the minority.”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
The plan states that everyone shall have the same opportunities and rights regardless of sexuality, sexual orientation or identity, and that no one shall be restricted or discriminated against either in private or in public due to how they live their life.
Plan documents: 2022 manifesto
Reasoning and quotes
The plan states that everyone shall have the same opportunities and rights regardless of sexuality, sexual orientation or identity, and that no one shall be restricted or discriminated against either in private or in public due to how they live their life. The counter-proposal's requirement that transgender identity and expression be added among the grounds for discrimination in the constitution aligns with that commitment. However, the plan lists other rights it wants to strengthen in the constitution, which means the conclusion is derived and uncertain.
Original (Swedish)
Planen slår fast att alla ska ha samma möjligheter och rättigheter oavsett sexualitet, läggning eller identitet och att ingen ska begränsas eller diskrimineras vare sig privat eller offentligt på grund av hur man lever sitt liv. Motförslagets krav på att könsöverskridande identitet och uttryck läggs till bland grundlagens diskrimineringsgrunder ligger i linje med det åtagandet. Planen räknar dock upp andra rättigheter den vill stärka i grundlagen, varför slutsatsen är härledd och osäker.
- lika rättigheter oavsett identitetdecisive»Att alla ska ha samma möjligheter och rättigheter oavsett sexualitet, läggning eller identitet« (2022 manifesto ↗)“That everyone shall have the same opportunities and rights regardless of sexuality, sexual orientation or identity”
- ingen diskriminering»Ingen ska begränsas eller diskrimineras, i det privata eller i det offentliga, på grund av hur man lever sitt liv.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“No one shall be restricted or discriminated against, in private or in public, due to how they live their life.”
- värna allas lika rättigheter»Sverigedemokraterna vill slå vakt om de framsteg som gjorts för allas lika rättigheter.« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Sweden Democrats want to protect the progress made for everyone's equal rights.”
- planens egen grundlagslista»Förstärka grundlagens rättighetsskydd vad gäller yttrandefrihet, äganderätt och frihet från religion« (2022 manifesto ↗)“Strengthen the constitution's protection of rights regarding freedom of expression, property rights and freedom from religion”
The plan takes no explicit position on what the committee actually decided — often because the committee's reason was procedural. The stance is derived and fully cited, but it does not show the party broke a commitment.
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Sources and documents
- The committee report on riksdagen.se (2025/26:KU30)
- Committee report full text (HD01KU30)
- Per-MP voting data (API)
- Case status (API)
Documents under consideration
- Motion 2025/26:1049 — Representativ demokrati och vikten av förankring av Jamal El-Haj (-)
- Motion 2025/26:1271 — Skydd för gemensam egendom av Niklas Karlsson och Joakim Sandell (båda S)
- Motion 2025/26:1384 — Avskaffande av den kungliga dispositionsrätten till statens fastigheter av Karin Sundin (S) och Niels Paarup-Petersen (C)
- Motion 2025/26:1385 — Ett modernt statsskick av Karin Sundin m.fl. (S, V, MP, C, L)
- Motion 2025/26:1556 — Ansvar för granskning av kommunsektorn under Riksrevisionen av Yusuf Aydin (KD)
- Motion 2025/26:1647 — Grundlagsskydd för rätten att behålla minst hälften av sin inkomst av Ludvig Ceimertz och Noria Manouchi (båda M)
- Motion 2025/26:1698 — Skydda även svensk kultur i regeringsformen av Staffan Eklöf (SD)
- Motion 2025/26:1703 — Folklig granskning inför ratificering av internationella avtal av Staffan Eklöf (SD)
- Motion 2025/26:1708 — Former för att säkerställa medborgarnas informerade och fria åsikter vid folkomröstning av Staffan Eklöf (SD)
- Motion 2025/26:1710 — En mer demokratisk process vid ingående av avtal för Sveriges räkning av Staffan Eklöf (SD)
- Motion 2025/26:1711 — Förstärkt skydd av vår demokrati av Ann-Sofie Alm (M)
- Motion 2025/26:1741 — Minskning av antalet riksdagsledamöter av Jan Ericson (M)
- Motion 2025/26:1743 — Utöka Riksrevisionens uppdrag av Jan Ericson m.fl. (M)
- Motion 2025/26:1757 — Granskning av partinära affärsverksamheter av Boriana Åberg (M)
- Motion 2025/26:193 — Om krav på enbart svenskt medborgarskap för statsråd och riksdagsledamöter av Rashid Farivar (SD)
- Motion 2025/26:1950 — Reglering av hemlig politisk påverkan av Mattias Vepsä m.fl. (S)
- Motion 2025/26:2163 — Minskning av antalet ledamöter i Sveriges riksdag av Sten Bergheden (M)
- Motion 2025/26:2290 — Införande av ett lobbyregister av Linnéa Wickman (S)
- Motion 2025/26:2576 — Skydd från påtvingad partisponsring för arbetare av Oliver Rosengren och Lars Beckman (båda M)
- Motion 2025/26:2751 — Om transparens och ett lobbyregister av Mathias Tegnér m.fl. (S)
Source: The Swedish Parliament