Germany is set to become the
first country in Europe to introduce a third, "indeterminate" gender
designation on birth certificates. The European Union, which is
attempting to coordinate anti-discrimination efforts across member
states, is lagging behind on the issue.
The option of selecting "blank", in addition to the standard choices
of "male" or female" on birth certificates will become available in
Germany from November 1. The legislative change allows parents to opt
out of determining their baby's gender, thereby allowing those born with
characteristics of both sexes to choose whether to become male or
female in later life. Under the new law, individuals can also opt to
remain outside the gender binary altogether.
Germany is the first country in Europe to introduce this option -- Munich-based newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung
is referring to the change as a "legal revolution". It remains unclear,
however, how the change will affect gender assignment in other personal
documents, such as passports, which still require people to choose
between two categories -- "F" for female and "M" for male. German family
law publication FamRZ has called for the introduction of a third category, designated by the letter "X".
The law was passed back in May, but has only now been reported on,
following an article this month in FamRZ -- just six weeks after
Australia became the first country in the world to introduce legal
guidelines on gender recognition. Under the Australian system, which
applies to all personal documents, individuals can select the third
category irrespective of whether or not they have undergone sex
reassignment surgery or hormone therapy.
Brussels Under Pressure
Finland is the only EU member state aside from Germany to have made significant progress in the area of third gender recognition. Despite its efforts, bureaucratic hurdles in the Nordic country have meant that there is still no concrete legislative change in sight.
According to Silvan Agius, policy director at human rights organisation ILGA Europe -- the European chapter of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association -- the European Union is lagging behind on the issue. Though Brussels commissioned a report on trans and intersex minorities in 2010, and has since attempted to coordinate efforts to prohibit gender discrimination, progress has been halting.
"Things are moving slower than they should at the European level", says
Agius. "Though Brussels has ramped up efforts to promote awareness of
trans and intersex discrimination, I would like to see things speed up."
The subsequent EU report on potential changes to European Union law,
which was published in 2012 and co-authored by Agius, found that
discrimination against trans and intersex people was still "rampant in
all EU countries."
"Germany's move will put more pressure on Brussels," Agius concludes. "That can only be a good thing."
Brussels Under Pressure
Finland is the only EU member state aside from Germany to have made significant progress in the area of third gender recognition. Despite its efforts, bureaucratic hurdles in the Nordic country have meant that there is still no concrete legislative change in sight.
According to Silvan Agius, policy director at human rights organisation ILGA Europe -- the European chapter of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association -- the European Union is lagging behind on the issue. Though Brussels commissioned a report on trans and intersex minorities in 2010, and has since attempted to coordinate efforts to prohibit gender discrimination, progress has been halting.
"Germany's move will put more pressure on Brussels," Agius concludes. "That can only be a good thing."
1 comMENTS:
Armes Deutschland. Surely the enemy of humanity is out to destroy the nation which heroically stood in defiance of its financial tyranny. When will our people draw the line in the sand and say 'enough'? The 'line' should have been drawn and defended some time ago - but of course, in Germany it was, Hence this disgusting news.
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