Portrait

Petra De Sutter

Born: 10 June 1963Oudenaarde, Belgium

Physician and politicianBelgium

Petra De Sutter

A specialist in reproductive medicine who became Europe’s first transgender deputy prime minister.

Petra De Sutter grew up in East Flanders and studied medicine at Ghent University. She became a gynaecologist and professor, and for many years headed the department of reproductive medicine at Ghent University Hospital. She is internationally known for her research on fertility treatment.

In 2004 she transitioned. She has said she knew from early childhood that she was a girl, but for a long time did not dare to say it. In 2014 she entered politics for the Flemish Green party, Groen, and became a senator. In 2019 she was elected to the European Parliament.

In 2020 she was appointed Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium and minister for the civil service and public enterprises. She was the first openly transgender person in Europe to hold such a high government office. When she was appointed, she was attacked online, but she said she hoped her appointment would show that trans people can take on any role in society.

After her time in government, she was elected rector of Ghent University in 2025.

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