Third Gender Option

[Jazzy]

As of November, Germany will be the first country in Europe to offer a "third gender" distinction on its birth certificates.

A new German law stipulates that children who are born of indeterminate gender no longer have to be categorized as "male" or "female." Instead, parents can choose to leave the space blank on their child's birth certificate, according to German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung. Those individuals can eventually decide whether to identify as male, female or neither.

The German legislature voted this as an amendment to the Civil Status Act on May 7. As Süddeutsche Zeitung recently noted, the "legal change has received little attention so far." But that all changed when some determined the new law, while progressive, doesn't go far enough.

FarMZ, a German Family Law Journal, recently outlined the measure's shortcomings as such: Once the third gender option is legal in Germany, those who choose to identify as "blank" are going to encounter a host of bureaucratic headaches when traveling abroad. The group suggests that Germany use an "X" to designate third-gender identifiers on its passports.

In the past, the country has been criticized for its stances on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues.

Incidentally, Germany's not the only country navigating the legal implications of appropriately categorizing third gender identifiers. Earlier this year, Nepal began issuing "third gender" citizenship certificates. Activists lauded the progressive measure, noting its potential to simplify lives for sexual minorities.

Meanwhile, Sweden's instituted a more vernacular solution to the gender dichotomy with"hen," a third-gender pronoun. The term was recently added to the Swedish National Encyclopedia as an alternative to masculine "han" or feminine "hon."

Source

What are your thoughts on having a third gender option?

 

[DrLeftover]

There's nothing new here, except the addition of another set of bathrooms at Oktoberfest.

There has been a Third, and more, 'sex' in parts of Asia for a very long time.

Hijra, Kojja, Chakka, and etc.
Terms for those who belong to what is effectively a Third Sex in some jurisdictions in Southern and Southeastern Asia and elsewhere. The majority of those individuals so identified are biologically male, however, they take on a self identity and societal roles that are more often identified as female. A minority of those have been Castrated (a Eunuch, which see) or totally Emasculated so as to better perform this role as the Nirwaan, a subset of the 'Hijra'. An even smaller number are biologically Hermaphrodites or Androgynous and in some groups are highly revered in their religious sects. Depending on the culture, the Hijra may be monks or priests, or even prostitutes. Some perform cultural or religious rituals such as speaking to the spirits of ancestors, as with the Native American "Two Spirit People" (which see), others are household servants.

The legal and societal status of these individuals depends on the locale, and there have been various attempts to legally recognize them as a Third Sex (which see) which have met with more or less success in different countries. Also see: Intersex and other highlighted terms.

Link available by adult request.

 

[Jazzy]

There's nothing new here, except the addition of another set of bathrooms at Oktoberfest.

There has been a Third, and more, 'sex' in parts of Asia for a very long time.

Hijra, Kojja, Chakka, and etc.
Terms for those who belong to what is effectively a Third Sex in some jurisdictions in Southern and Southeastern Asia and elsewhere. terms.

Do they offer a "third gender" distinction on birth certificates?

 

[DrLeftover]

Oddly enough, since much law in the region was drawn up based on the legal systems of the various colonial powers, even though it is a traditional role in the societies, they do not have legal recognition.

Which is now becoming an issue, such as this case in Thailand where they are called "Kathoey":

http://www.thailawforum.com/Transsexuals-and-Thai-Law.html

 

[Jazzy]

There's nothing new here, except the addition of another set of bathrooms at Oktoberfest.

But there is something new here, right? Germany will be the first country in Europe to offer a "third gender" distinction on its birth certificates.

 

[DrLeftover]

Then, yes ma'am, that IS new.

And something they can be proud of.

They should have a parade next year.

And invite the Russians.

As for India and the others where it is a traditional role in their culture, I wasn't aware of the fact that they did NOT have a recognized legal status.

 

[Jazzy]

What are your thoughts on having a third gender option?

 

[DrLeftover]

Personally? I get enough rejection from women.

Professionally? I don't care beyond when one of them calls with a problem. I mean, what do you say to them? Right now I'm OK with "Yes, ma'am" and "No, sir." What is the polite pronoun for "it"?