Lebanon’s Court of Appeals has granted a transgender man the right to change his sex in the civil registry on account of his own gender identification, marking a step toward granting trans persons legal recognition for their status.

Under Lebanese law, trans persons must complete gender reassignment surgery to petition for a change in status. An arbiter must then rule that the surgery was done to correct a hormonal or biological disorder to allow the amendment.

“The problem is requiring the surgery before the amendment. If someone wants to go through the operation, they’re not going to be able to afford it. Most likely their parents aren’t going to pay for them. They’re going to find it hard to find a job,” Zaydan said. Read more via Daily Star