Germany to introduce 'indeterminate' gender to birth certificates
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.In what has been hailed as a legal revolution, Germany is to become the first country in Europe to start giving parents the option of a third, “indeterminate” gender description on the birth certificates for their newborns, in addition to standard choices of male or female.
The option of “gender: ‘blank’” is to be introduced throughout Germany from November in an attempt to enable children born with characteristics of both sexes to decide whether they want to be considered male or female in later life. The new law also stipulates that individuals can opt to remain of indeterminate gender for their whole lives.
However, German authorities still have to decide how the new law will affect gender description on other key personal documents such as passports which still require holders to enter their sex under F for female or M for male.
Germany just failed to become the first country in the world to introduce an indeterminate category. The title has been claimed by Australia, which introduced legal guidelines on gender recognition just over six weeks ago.
Silvan Agius, the policy director of the European chapter of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association, told Der Spiegel that although Brussels had commissioned a report on trans and intersex minorities, progress had been halting. “Germany’s move will put more pressure on Brussels, and that can only be a good thing,” he added.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments