Lawmakers in Vietnam voted on Tuesday to pass a law granting transgender people the right to change their gender on legal documents. The new law was approved [AFP Report] by 282 of 366 law makers after the National Assembly’s Standing Committee submitted [Thanh Nien News report] a report on a wide range of legal issues faced by transgender people in the country. Many believe this may be a first step in allowing sex reassignment surgery in the country. Supporters have reportedly gathered in large numbers in Hanoi, the nation’s capital, with more gatherings planned for Tuesday night. The law will go into effect in early 2017.

Transgender rights remain a controversial issue throughout the world. In September attorneys for a Maryland transgender inmate who had been subject to harsh prison conditions said that their client had won relief [JURIST report] under the Prison Rape Elimination Act, marking the first such successful challenge. US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter in July announced [JURIST report] a comprehensive plan to move in the direction of allowing transgender troops to serve in the military. Also in July Ireland passed the Gender Recognition Bill [JURIST report] to allow transgender people over 18 legal recognition of their preferred gender and changes in their birth certificate. In November Malaysia’s Court of Appeals in Putrajaya struck down [JURIST report] an anti-crossdressing law in a challenge filed by three transgender women. In May 2013 Hong Kong’s Court of Final Appeal ruled [JURIST report] that a law prohibiting a transgender woman from marrying her boyfriend was invalid under the Chinese constitution. Canadian lawmakers approved a bill [JURIST report] in March 2013 that would outlaw discrimination against transgender individuals.