The European Union’s top court has ruled that member states must accept changes of first name and gender obtained in other countries in the bloc, a landmark ruling brought about by a case involving Arian Mirzarafie-Ahi, a transgender man with dual citizenship in Romania and Great Britain. The decision, which establishes a significant legal precedent, will affect millions of transgender people across the bloc, ensuring their identities are respected and recognized, regardless of where they live or travel within the EU. “Gender, like a first name, is a fundamental element of personal identity. A divergence between identities resulting from such a refusal of recognition creates difficulties for a person in proving his or her identity in daily life as well as serious professional, administrative and private inconvenience,” the court said in its decision.