Legal recognition of non-binary gender

In recent years, some societies have begun to legally recognize non-binary, genderqueer, or third gender identities. Some non-western societies have long recognized transgender people as a third gender, though this may not (or may only recently) include internationally recognized ‘legal rights’ for such people. This has much more to do with the nature of the legal system towards gender than the nature of the societies towards it, as referenced by the distinct cultural place and societal recognition privileging members of the third gender in non-Western societies which recognize them—five examples being pre-colonial Inca Qariwarmi, Pali pandakas, androgynes in the Talmud, Hijras as described further below, and the Inuit ‘third gender’.

Among western nations, Australia may have been the first to recognize a third classification, with Alex MacFarlane, who is intersex, receiving a passport with sex marked as indeterminate in 2003. Transgender advocate Norrie May-Welby was recognized as having unspecified status in 2014. In 2016, an Oregon circuit court ruled that Elisa Rae Shupe could legally change gender to non-binary.

{{further|Transgender rights|Third gender|Non-binary gender}}

The Open Society Foundations published a report, License to Be Yourself, in May 2014, documenting "some of the world's most progressive and rights-based laws and policies that enable trans people to change their gender identity on official documents."{{Cite book |last=Byrne |first=Jack |url=http://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/reports/license-be-yourself |title=License to Be Yourself |publisher=Open Society Foundations |year=2014 |isbn=9781940983103 |location=New York |access-date=2014-12-28}} The report comments on the recognition of third classifications, stating:

{{blockquote|

From a rights-based perspective, third sex / gender options should be voluntary, providing trans people with a third choice about how to define their gender identity. Those identifying as a third sex / gender should have the same rights as those identifying as male or female.}}

The document also quotes Mauro Cabral of Global Action for Trans Equality:

{{blockquote|

People tend to identify a third sex with freedom from the gender binary, but that is not necessarily the case. If only trans and/or intersex people can access that third category, or if they are compulsively assigned to a third sex, then the gender binary gets stronger, not weaker.}}

The report concludes that two or three options are insufficient: "A more inclusive approach would be to increase options for people to self-define their sex and gender identity."

{{main|Legal recognition of intersex people}}

{{further|Intersex human rights}}

Like all individuals, some intersex individuals may be raised as a particular sex (male or female) but then identify with another later in life, while most do not.{{Cite book |last1=Money |first1=John |url=https://archive.org/details/manwomanboygirl00mone |title=Man & Woman Boy & Girl. Differentiation and dimorphism of gender identity from conception to maturity |last2=Ehrhardt, Anke A. |publisher=The Johns Hopkins University Press |year=1972 |isbn=978-0-8018-1405-1 |location=USA |author-link=John Money |url-access=registration}}{{Cite book |last=Domurat Dreger |first=Alice |title=Hermaphrodites and the Medical Invention of Sex |publisher=Harvard University Press |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-674-00189-3 |location=USA}}{{Cite book |last=Marañón |first=Gregorio |title=Los estados intersexuales en la especie humana |publisher=Morata |year=1929 |location=Madrid}} A 2012 clinical review suggests that between 8.5 and 20% of persons with intersex conditions may experience gender dysphoria, distress or discomfort as a result of the sex and gender they were assigned at birth.{{Cite journal |last=Furtado P. S. |display-authors=etal |year=2012 |title=Gender dysphoria associated with disorders of sex development |journal=Nat. Rev. Urol. |volume=9 |issue=11 |pages=620–627 |doi=10.1038/nrurol.2012.182 |pmid=23045263 |s2cid=22294512}} Australian sociological research published in 2016 shows that 19% of 272 people born with atypical sex characteristics participating in the study selected an "X" or "other" option, while 52% are women, 23% men and 6% unsure.{{Cite book |last1=Jones |first1=Tiffany |url=http://oii.org.au/wp-content/uploads/key/Intersex-Stories-Statistics-Australia.pdf |title=Intersex: Stories and Statistics from Australia |last2=Hart |first2=Bonnie |last3=Carpenter |first3=Morgan |last4=Ansara |first4=Gavi |last5=Leonard |first5=William |last6=Lucke |first6=Jayne |date=February 2016 |publisher=Open Book Publishers |isbn=978-1-78374-208-0 |location=Cambridge, UK |access-date=2016-02-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914152729/http://oii.org.au/wp-content/uploads/key/Intersex-Stories-Statistics-Australia.pdf |archive-date=2016-09-14 |url-status=dead}}{{Citation |last=Organisation Intersex International Australia |title=Demographics |date=July 28, 2016 |url=https://oii.org.au/demographics/ |access-date=2016-09-30}}

According to the Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions, few countries have provided for the legal recognition of intersex people. The Asia Pacific Forum states that the legal recognition of intersex people is firstly about access to the same rights as other men and women, when assigned male or female; secondly it is about access to administrative corrections to legal documents when an original sex assignment is not appropriate; and thirdly, while opt in schemes may help some individuals, legal recognition is not about the creation of a third sex or gender classification for intersex people as a population.{{Cite book |last=Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions |url=http://www.asiapacificforum.net/resources/manual-sogi-and-sex-charactersitics/ |title=Promoting and Protecting Human Rights in relation to Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Sex Characteristics |date=June 2016 |publisher=Asia Pacific Forum of National Human Rights Institutions |isbn=978-0-9942513-7-4}}

In March 2017, an Australian and New Zealand community statement called for an end to legal classification of sex, stating that legal third classifications, like binary classifications, were based on structural violence and failed to respect diversity and a "right to self-determination". It also called for the criminalization of deferrable intersex medical interventions.{{Citation |last1=Androgen Insensitivity Support Syndrome Support Group Australia |title=Darlington Statement |date=March 2017 |url=https://oii.org.au/darlington-statement/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170322204013/https://oii.org.au/darlington-statement/ |access-date=March 21, 2017 |archive-date=2017-03-22 |last2=Intersex Trust Aotearoa New Zealand |last3=Organisation Intersex International Australia |last4=Black |first4=Eve |last5=Bond |first5=Kylie |last6=Briffa |first6=Tony |last7=Carpenter |first7=Morgan |last8=Cody |first8=Candice |last9=David |first9=Alex |author-link=Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome Support Group Australia |author-link2=Intersex Trust Aotearoa New Zealand |author-link3=Organisation Intersex International Australia |author-link6=Tony Briffa (politician) |author-link7=Morgan Carpenter |last10=Driver |first10=Betsy |last11=Hannaford |first11=Carolyn |last12=Harlow |first12=Eileen |last13=Hart |first13=Bonnie |author13-link=Bonnie Hart |last14=Hart |first14=Phoebe |author14-link=Phoebe Hart |last15=Leckey |first15=Delia |last16=Lum |first16=Steph |last17=Mitchell |first17=Mani Bruce |author17-link=Mani Mitchell |last18=Nyhuis |first18=Elise |last19=O'Callaghan |first19=Bronwyn |last20=Perrin |first20=Sandra |last21=Smith |first21=Cody |last22=Williams |first22=Trace |last23=Yang |first23=Imogen |last24=Yovanovic |first24=Georgie}}{{Cite web |last=Copland |first=Simon |date=March 20, 2017 |title=Intersex people have called for action. It's time to listen. |url=http://www.sbs.com.au/topics/sexuality/agenda/article/2017/03/20/intersex-people-have-called-action-its-time-listen |access-date=2017-03-21 |website=Special Broadcasting Service}}

{{further|Transgender rights in Argentina|Travesti (gender identity)}}

In 2012 and under then president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, Argentina passed its Gender Identity Law ({{langx|es|Ley de identidad de género}}), which allows transgender people to identify with their chosen gender on official documents without first having to receive hormone therapy, gender reassignment surgery or psychiatric counseling.{{Cite web |last=Pitchon |first=Allie |date=June 27, 2018 |title=Transgender Rights in Argentina: A Story of Progress, Turbulence, and Contradictions |url=https://www.thebubble.com/transgender-rights-in-argentina-a-story-of-progress-turbulence-and-contradictions/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200531204004/https://www.thebubble.com/transgender-rights-in-argentina-a-story-of-progress-turbulence-and-contradictions/ |archive-date=May 31, 2020 |access-date=April 3, 2019 |publisher=The Bubble}} As such, transgender rights in Argentina have been lauded by many as some of the world's most progressive.{{Cite web |last=Schmall |first=Emily |date=May 24, 2012 |title=Transgender Advocates Hail Law Easing Rules in Argentina |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/25/world/americas/transgender-advocates-hail-argentina-law.html |access-date=April 3, 2019 |website=The New York Times}}

In November 2018, two non-binary people from Mendoza Province became the first to obtain an ID and birth certificate without indication of sex.{{Cite web |last=Vallejos |first=Soledad |date=November 2, 2018 |title=DNI sin indicación de sexo y como un trámite |url=https://www.pagina12.com.ar/152857-dni-sin-indicacion-de-sexo-y-como-un-tramite |access-date=May 8, 2019 |website=Página/12 |language=es}} In early 2019, trans activist Lara María Bertolini was allowed to change their official sex to the transfeminine non-binary label "travesti femininity" ({{langx|es|femeninidad travesti}}) through a judicial ruling that was considered a landmark for the travesti movement. Judge Myriam Cataldi ruled that the Gender Identity Law applied to Bertolini's case, citing the law's definition of "gender identity" as: "the internal and individual experience of gender as each person feels it, which may or may not correspond to the sex assigned at birth, including the personal experience of the body."{{Cite web |last=Iglesias |first=Mariana |date=March 1, 2019 |title=Ni femenino ni masculino: su documento dirá "femineidad travesti" |url=https://www.clarin.com/sociedad/femenino-masculino-documento-dira-femineidad-travesti_0_H3cOBVH-U.html |access-date=March 25, 2019 |website=Clarín |language=es}}

On 20 July 2021, President Alberto Fernández signed a decree (Decreto 476/2021) mandating the National Registry of Persons (RENAPER) to allow a third gender option on all national identity cards and passports, marked as an "X". The measure applies to non-citizen permanent residents who possess Argentine identity cards as well.{{Cite web |date=20 July 2021 |title=Decreto 476/2021 |url=https://www.boletinoficial.gob.ar/detalleAviso/primera/247092/20210721 |access-date=21 July 2021 |website=Boletín Oficial de la República Argentina |language=es}} In compliance with the 2012 Gender Identity Law, this made Argentina the first country in South America to legally recognize non-binary gender on all official documentation, freely and upon the person's request.{{Cite web |date=20 July 2021 |title=Alberto Fernández pondrá en marcha el DNI para personas no binarias |url=https://www.ambito.com/politica/dni/alberto-fernandez-pondra-marcha-el-personas-no-binarias-n5228351 |access-date=21 July 2021 |website=Ámbito |language=es}}{{Cite web |date=21 July 2021 |title=Identidad de género: el Gobierno emitirá un DNI para personas no binarias |url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/sociedad/identidad-de-genero-el-gobierno-emitira-un-dni-para-personas-no-binarias-nid20072021/ |access-date=21 July 2021 |website=La Nación |language=es}}{{Cite news |last=Westfall |first=Sammy |date=22 July 2021 |title=Argentina rolls out gender-neutral ID |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/07/22/argentina-nonbinary-id/ |access-date=24 July 2021}}

The far right administration that came to power in 2023 is planning to withdraw this recognition in 2024.https://diarioelnorte.com.ar/el-gobierno-nacional-planea-eliminar-la-vigencia-del-dni-no-binario-por-decreto/

After the decision of the German Federal Constitutional Court (Bundesverfassungsgericht) of 9 November 2017, Austrian media report that a similar case is also pending at the Constitutional Court (Verfassungsgerichtshof) in Austria. Two lower judicial instances already decided against the possibility of a "third gender". Each year at least 35 children in Austria are reported to be born with ambiguous sex characteristics. Surgical interventions on intersex children, to make them fit one of the binary sex characteristics, are criticized by Verein Intergeschlechtliche Menschen Österreich (VIMÖ), an Austrian association fighting for the rights of intersex people. They demand that children should be free to decide on these matters when they are grown up.

Johannes Wahala, president of the Austrian Society For Sexologies and head of Beratungsstelle Courage advice center in Graz condemns these operations and wishes for the introduction of a third gender.{{Cite web |date=9 November 2017 |title=Drittes Geschlecht auch in Österreich gefordert |url=http://steiermark.orf.at/news/stories/2877135 |access-date=May 16, 2021 |website=orf.at |language=German}}

On 15 June 2018, the Austrian Constitutional Court reached a decision, published in a news release on 29 June, that Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights guarantees recognition of gender identity beyond the binary male or female, and that people with a variation in gender development other than male or female must be allowed to leave a gender entry empty and must be allowed to have a positive other entry implemented. They also found that current law is not in contradiction to these requirements, and can be interpreted in a way that is conformant to the constitutional right of recognition of gender identity via Article 8 of the ECHR. The Court ruled that the national interests listed in Article 8.1 ECHR do not outweigh the very sensible interest of an individual to recognition of their personal life, including gender identity, and that other laws can be adapted if needed. The Court indicate that administrative bodies may require proof of the adequacy of a change to an entry and the relation to a person's actual social life, and that Article 8.1 ECHR does not establish a right to arbitrarily named entries. They have not decided on a specific name a third gender option should have, but cite recommendations as "divers", "inter", "offen".

{{Cite web |date=29 June 2018 |title=Intersexuelle Personen haben Recht aft Adäquate Bezeichnung im Personenstandsregister |url=https://www.vfgh.gv.at/medien/Personenstandsgesetz_-_intersexuelle_Personen.php |access-date=May 16, 2021 |website=Verfassungsgerichtshof Österreich |language=German}} Alex Jürgen, an intersex activist, fought for their right to have a non-binary option in their passport and was the first person in Austria to receive it.

Options besides male and female are only available for intersex people, who are required to provide medical records to prove their sex.{{cite web |url=https://www.thepinknews.com/2019/05/14/austria-third-gender-option-documents/ |title=Austria recognises third gender option in official documents |author=Sofia Lotto Persio |date=May 14, 2019 |website=Pink News |access-date=May 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202140233/https://www.thepinknews.com/2019/05/14/austria-third-gender-option-documents/ |archive-date=February 2, 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://www.loc.gov/item/global-legal-monitor/2018-07-06/austria-court-allows-intersex-individuals-to-register-third-gender-other-than-male-or-female/ |title=Austria: Court allows intersex individuals to register third gender other than male or female |date=July 6, 2018 |website=Library of Congress |access-date=May 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211026202931/https://www.loc.gov/item/global-legal-monitor/2018-07-06/austria-court-allows-intersex-individuals-to-register-third-gender-other-than-male-or-female/ |archive-date=October 26, 2021}}

{{further|Intersex rights in Australia|Transgender rights in Australia}}

First reported in January 2003, Australians can choose "X" as their gender or sex. Alex MacFarlane is believed to be the first person in Australia to obtain a birth certificate recording sex as indeterminate, and the first Australian passport with an 'X' sex marker in 2003.{{Cite web |last=Butler |first=Julie |date=January 11, 2003 |title=X marks the spot for intersex Alex |url=http://www.bodieslikeours.org/pdf/xmarks.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110023525/http://www.bodieslikeours.org/pdf/xmarks.pdf |archive-date=November 10, 2013 |website=Perth}}{{Cite journal |last=Holme |first=Ingrid |year=2008 |title=Hearing People's Own Stories |journal=Science as Culture |volume=17 |issue=3 |pages=341–344 |doi=10.1080/09505430802280784 |s2cid=143528047}}{{Cite web |date=27 June 2010 |title=Neither man nor woman |url=http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/neither-man-nor-woman-20100626-zaye.html |access-date=May 16, 2021 |website=Sydney Morning Herald}}{{Cite journal |date=2003 |title=X Marks the Spot for Intersex Alex |url=http://www.asanet.org/sectionsex/documents/SUMMER03sexnews.pdf |journal=Newsletter of the Sociology of Sexualities Section of the American Sociological Association |publisher=American Sociological Association Sexualities News |volume=6 |issue=1 |page=7 |access-date=May 16, 2021}}{{Cite web |date=19 January 2013 |title=Ten years of 'X' passports, and no protection from discrimination |url=http://oii.org.au/21597/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211191956/http://oii.org.au/21597/ |archive-date=December 11, 2013 |access-date=May 16, 2021 |website=UII Australia - Intersex Australia}} This was stated by the West Australian newspaper to be on the basis of a challenge by MacFarlane, using an indeterminate birth certificate issued by the State of Victoria. Other individuals known to have similar early options include Tony Briffa of Organisation Intersex International Australia and former mayor of City of Hobsons Bay, Victoria, previously acknowledged as the world's first openly intersex public official and mayor.{{Cite web |last=Gieseke |first=Winston |date=December 9, 2011 |title=Intersex Mayor Elected in Australia |url=http://www.advocate.com/news/daily-news/2011/12/09/intersex-mayor-elected-australia |access-date=May 16, 2021 |website=The Advocate}}{{cite web |url=http://gaynewsnetwork.com.au/news/national/tony-briffa-to-wed-partner-in-nz-ceremony-12022.html |title=OII VP Tony Briffa to wed partner in NZ ceremony |last=Busby |first=Cec |date=September 27, 2013 |website=Gay News Network |access-date=May 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110035430/http://gaynewsnetwork.com.au/news/national/tony-briffa-to-wed-partner-in-nz-ceremony-12022.html |archive-date=November 10, 2013}}{{Cite web |title=About Tony… – Cr. Tony Briffa JP |url=http://briffa.org/about |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140406012528/http://briffa.org/about |archive-date=2014-04-06 |access-date=2017-01-30 |website=briffa.org}}

Government policy between 2003 and 2011 was to issue passports with an 'X' marker to persons who could "present a birth certificate that notes their sex as indeterminate".{{cite web |url=https://www.humanrights.gov.au/sex-files-legal-recognition-concluding-paper-sex-and-gender-2009#Heading495 |title=Sex Files: the legal recognition of sex in documents and government records. Concluding paper of the sex and gender diversity project (2009) |website=Australian Human Rights Commission |date=March 2009 |access-date=May 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130421034653/https://www.humanrights.gov.au/sex-files-legal-recognition-concluding-paper-sex-and-gender-2009#Heading495 |archive-date=April 21, 2013}} In 2011, the Australian Passport Office introduced new guidelines for issuing of passports with a new gender, and broadened availability of an X descriptor to all individuals with documented "indeterminate" sex.{{Cite news |date=14 September 2011 |title=Getting a passport made easier for sex and gender diverse people |work=The Hon Kevin Rudd MP |url=http://foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2011/kr_mr_110914b.html |access-date=23 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111119075623/http://foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2011/kr_mr_110914b.html |archive-date=19 November 2011}}{{cite web |url=http://oii.org.au/14763/on-x-passports/ |title=On Australian passports and "X" for sex |website=Organisation Intersex International (OII) Australia |date=9 October 2011 |access-date=May 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130420235110/http://oii.org.au/14763/on-x-passports/ |archive-date=April 20, 2013}} The revised policy stated that "sex reassignment surgery is not a prerequisite to issue a passport in a new gender. Birth or citizenship certificates do not need to be amended."{{Cite web |url=https://www.passports.gov.au/web/sexgenderapplicants.aspx |title=Sex and Gender Diverse Passport Applicants |website=Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade |publisher=Australian Government |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111019035814/https://www.passports.gov.au/web/sexgenderapplicants.aspx |archive-date=19 October 2011 |access-date=23 December 2011}}

Australian Commonwealth guidelines on the recognition of sex and gender, published in June 2013, extended the use of an 'X' gender marker to any adult who chooses that option, in all dealings with the Commonwealth government and its agencies. The option is being introduced over a three-year period. The guidelines also clarify that the federal government collects data on gender, rather than sex.{{Cite web |title=Australian Government Guidelines on the Recognition of Sex and Gender |url=http://www.ag.gov.au/Publications/Pages/AustralianGovernmentGuidelinesontheRecognitionofSexandGender.aspx |access-date=27 December 2014}} In March 2014, the Australian Capital Territory introduced an 'X' classification for birth certificates.{{cite web |url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/new-laws-will-allow-for-sex-change-to-be-made-to-birth-certificates-20140320-35659.html |title=New laws will allow for sex change to be made to birth certificates |last=Lawson |first=Kirsten |website=Canberra Times |date=March 21, 2014 |access-date=May 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140530145016/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/new-laws-will-allow-for-sex-change-to-be-made-to-birth-certificates-20140320-35659.html |archive-date=May 30, 2014}}

Norrie May-Welby is popularly – but erroneously – often regarded as the first person in the world to obtain officially indeterminate, unspecified or "genderless" status.{{cite web |url=http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/2010/03/16/2010-03-16_no_sex_for_me_please_extranssexual_briton_is_first_legally_genderless_person.html |title=No sex for me, please! Ex-transsexual Australian Norrie May-Welby is first legally genderless person |last=Fugate |first=Maria |date=March 16, 2010 |website=Daily News |access-date=May 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100322191722/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/2010/03/16/2010-03-16_no_sex_for_me_please_extranssexual_briton_is_first_legally_genderless_person.html |archive-date=March 22, 2010}}{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/7446850/Briton-is-recognised-as-worlds-first-officially-genderless-person.html |title=Briton is recognised as world's first officially genderless person |last=Blake |first=Heidi |date=March 15, 2010 |website=The Telegraph |access-date=May 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100316210351/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/7446850/Briton-is-recognised-as-worlds-first-officially-genderless-person.html |archive-date=March 16, 2010}}{{cite web |url=http://www.dailylife.com.au/news-and-views/dl-opinion/norrie-maywelbys-battle-to-regain-status-as-the-worlds-first-legally-genderless-person-20131107-2x3nh.html |title=Norrie May-Welby's battle to regain status as the world's first legally genderless person |last=Simmonds |first=Alecia |date=November 8, 2013 |website=daily Life |access-date=May 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110035350/http://www.dailylife.com.au/news-and-views/dl-opinion/norrie-maywelbys-battle-to-regain-status-as-the-worlds-first-legally-genderless-person-20131107-2x3nh.html |archive-date=November 10, 2013}} May-Welby became the first transgender person in Australia to pursue a legal status of neither a man nor a woman, in 2010.{{cite web |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/18/norrie-may-welby-the-worl_n_502851.html |title=Norrie May-Welby: The World's First Legally Genderless Person |website=The Huffington Post |date=18 March 2010 |access-date=May 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111229011622/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/18/norrie-may-welby-the-worl_n_502851.html |archive-date=December 29, 2011}} In April 2014, the High Court of Australia ruled that NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages must record in the register that the sex of May-Welby is "non-specific".{{Cite news |last=Davidson |first=Helen |date=2 April 2014 |title=Third gender must be recognised by NSW after Norrie wins legal battle |work=theguardian.com |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/02/third-gender-must-be-recognised-by-nsw-after-norrie-wins-legal-battle |access-date=2 April 2014}} The Court found that sex affirmation "surgery did not resolve {{sic|her}} sexual ambiguity".{{cite court |litigants=NSW Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages v Norrie |vol=2014 |reporter=HCA |opinion=11 |pinpoint=11 |court=High Court of Australia |date=2 April 2014 |url=http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/cases/cth/HCA/2014/11.html}}

An alliance of organizations including the National LGBTI Health Alliance, Organisation Intersex International Australia and Transgender Victoria has called for X to be redefined as non-binary.{{Cite web |title=Submission Re Commonwealth Attorney-General's Department Review of the Australian Government Guidelines on the Recognition of Sex and Gender |url=http://lgbtihealth.org.au/resources/submission-review-agd-guidelines/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160329060924/http://lgbtihealth.org.au/resources/submission-review-agd-guidelines/ |archive-date=29 March 2016 |access-date=29 April 2016 |website=National LGBTI Health Alliance}}

In March 2017, an Australian and Aotearoa/New Zealand community statement called for an end to legal classification of sex, stating that legal third classifications, like binary classifications, were based on structural violence and failed to respect diversity and a "right to self-determination".

In April 2019, Tasmania became the first state or territory in Australia to make sex or gender identifiers in birth certificates optional and providing for official definitions for 'sex' and 'gender' (only 'sex' was defined before the reforms).{{Cite web |last=Whitson |first=state political reporter Rhiana |date=2018-11-21 |title=Hickey hits out at 'extreme right' in Liberal Party after historic Tasmanian gender vote |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-11-21/tasmania-may-become-first-state-with-optional-gender/10517106 |access-date=2019-08-30 |website=ABC News |language=en-AU}}{{Cite web |last1=Alex |first1=state political reporters |last2=Humphries |first2=ra |last3=Coulter |first3=Ellen |date=2019-04-10 |title=Tasmania becomes first state to make gender optional on birth certificate |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-04-10/birth-certificate-gender-laws-pass-in-tasmania/10989170 |access-date=2019-08-30 |website=ABC News |language=en-AU}} The reform was legislated by a non-government coalition of MPs and adopted an 'opt-in' model for sex identification on birth certificates. However, a binary classification of sex (male or female, with no intersex/unspecified option) is still collected for medical purposes. Children born with ambiguous genitalia are given an additional 60 days to choose a sex for registration. The child's sex will be displayed on the birth certificate only if the parents choose to opt-in. The same reforms also allowed persons over the age of 16 to change their gender identity on official documentation – without a sex reassignment surgery or hormone replacement therapy – by providing a gender declaration.

{{further|LGBT rights in Belgium}}

In June 2019, the Constitutional Court of Belgium struck down certain parts of the country's 2017 transgender law. The proceedings against the law were initiated by LGBT rights organizations, who argued that the law still discriminated against people with a non-binary or genderfluid identity, because it still only allowed people to register as either "male" or "female". The Constitutional Court agreed with the action brought against the law, and found the contested provisions to be discriminatory and therefore unconstitutional. Though the Court suggested a few ways in which to remedy the unconstitutional aspects, such as "the creation of one or more additional categories" or "the possibility to remove the registration of sex or gender as an element of a person's civil status", it also stressed that the responsibility to remediate the law's shortcomings remained with the legislature.{{Cite web |date=19 June 2019 |title=Press release on judgment 99/2019 |url=https://www.const-court.be/public/e/2019/2019-099e-info.pdf |access-date=May 26, 2024 |publisher=Constitutional Court of Belgium |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107233415/https://www.const-court.be/public/e/2019/2019-099e-info.pdf |archive-date=November 7, 2020}}{{Cite web |last=Desloovere |first=Tuur |date=14 November 2019 |title=Transgender Laws in Transition: European Courts on Non-Binary Gender Recognition |url=https://www.leuvenpubliclaw.com/transgender-laws-in-transition-european-courts-on-non-binary-gender-recognition/ |access-date=19 December 2020 |website=Leuven Blog for Public Law |publisher=Leuven Centre for Public Law (KU Leuven) |archive-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220117111535/https://www.leuvenpubliclaw.com/transgender-laws-in-transition-european-courts-on-non-binary-gender-recognition/}}{{Cite journal |last1=Meier |first1=Petra |last2=Motmans |first2=Joz |date=18 September 2020 |title=Trans Laws and Constitutional Rulings in Belgium: The Ambiguous Relations between Sex and Gender |url=https://biblio.ugent.be/publication/8675270/file/8675272.pdf |journal=Politics and Governance |volume=8 |issue=3 |page=245 |doi=10.17645/pag.v8i3.2851 |issn=2183-2463 |via=Ghent University Library |doi-access=free}}

The De Croo Government, Belgium's federal government which took office in October 2020, announced plans to introduce the possibility to register under the gender identifier "X", in order to address the judgment of the Constitutional Court. This was expressed by the new minister of Justice in the De Croo Government, Vincent Van Quickenborne, in November 2020.{{Cite news |last=Crisp |first=James |date=9 November 2020 |title=Belgium moves towards introducing 'X' as third gender on official documents |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/11/09/belgium-moves-towards-introducing-x-third-gender-official-documents/ |access-date=19 December 2020}}{{Cite news |last=Galindo |first=Gabriela |date=9 November 2020 |title=Belgium to introduce 'X' as third, non-binary gender |work=The Brussels Times |url=https://www.brusselstimes.com/belgium/139909/belgium-to-introduce-x-as-third-non-binary-gender-genderfluid-genderqueer-belgian-laws-transgender-justice-minister-vincent-van-quickenborne-minister-petra-de-sutter/ |access-date=19 December 2020}} This proposition was rejected in favor of erasing any mention of gender on identity cards (which appeared in 2003{{Cite web |title=Féminin ou masculin, une catégorisation trop binaire : le genre va disparaître de la carte d'identité belge |url=https://www.rtbf.be/article/feminin-ou-masculin-une-categorisation-trop-binaire-le-genre-va-disparaitre-de-la-carte-d-identite-belge-10888492 |access-date=2022-01-24 |website=RTBF |language=fr}}), while the National Registry will still mention the assigned gender at birth. The law will be effective in 2022.{{Cite web |last=Verbergt |first=Matthias |date=2021-11-30 |title=Vivaldi knipt geslacht van identiteitskaart |trans-title=Vivaldi government (i.e. Belgian government) removes gender from identity card |url=https://www.standaard.be/cnt/dmf20211129_97636181 |access-date=2022-01-24 |website=De Standaard |language=nl-BE}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.brusselstimes.com/195585/indication-of-gender-could-disappear-from-belgian-id-card |last=Times |first=The Brussels |date=2021-11-30 |title=Indication of gender could disappear from Belgian ID card |access-date=2022-02-17 |website=The Brussels Times |language=en}}

{{See also|Transgender rights in Brazil}}

File:Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Brazil.svg that legally recognize a non-binary gender (November 2024){{legend|#6d00b9|Recognized by provision}}{{legend|#fcc200|Recognition through judicial action}}{{legend|#D3D3D3|No legal recognition}}]]

There is no recognition of a third gender option nationwide, but since 2020 non-binary and intersex people have been getting court authorizations to register their sex as "unspecified", "non-identified", "intersex",{{Cite web |date=2024-03-10 |title=Intersexo: entenda o termo que foi pela primeira vez reconhecido em um registro civil no Brasil |url=https://g1.globo.com/saude/noticia/2024/03/10/entenda-intersexo.ghtml |access-date=2024-05-13 |website=G1 |language=pt-br}} or "non-binary" in the civil registry.{{Cite web |date=2020-09-21 |title=Em decisão inédita no Brasil, Justiça do Rio autoriza certidão de nascimento com registro de 'sexo não especificado' |trans-title=In an unprecedented decision in Brazil, Justice of Rio authorizes birth certificate with 'unspecified sex' registration |url=https://extra.globo.com/noticias/rio/em-decisao-inedita-no-brasil-justica-do-rio-autoriza-certidao-de-nascimento-com-registro-de-sexo-nao-especificado-rv1-1-24649959.html |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=Extra Online |language=pt-BR}}{{Cite web |date=2021-04-13 |title=Pessoa agênero obtém na Justiça o direito de ser registrada como 'neutra' na certidão de nascimento |trans-title=Agender person obtains in court the right to be registered as 'neutral' on the birth certificate |url=https://oglobo.globo.com/brasil/pessoa-agenero-obtem-na-justica-direito-de-ser-registrada-como-neutra-na-certidao-de-nascimento-24968519 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220324213356/https://oglobo.globo.com/brasil/pessoa-agenero-obtem-na-justica-direito-de-ser-registrada-como-neutra-na-certidao-de-nascimento-24968519 |archive-date=2022-03-24 |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=O Globo |language=pt-BR}}{{Cite web |last=Serena |first=Ilanna |date=2021-07-23 |title=Pela primeira vez, Justiça piauiense concede registro de pessoa não-binária à jovem |trans-title=For the first time, Piauí court grants registration of non-binary gender to young person |url=https://g1.globo.com/pi/piaui/noticia/2021/07/23/pela-primeira-vez-justica-piauiense-concede-registro-de-pessoa-nao-binaria-a-jovem.ghtml |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=G1 |language=pt-br}}{{Cite web |last1=Vieira |first1=Lígia |last2=Rodrigues |first2=Mateus |title=Nova carteira de identidade não terá campo 'sexo' nem distinção entre 'nome' e 'nome social', diz governo |date=19 May 2023 |url=https://g1.globo.com/politica/noticia/2023/05/19/nova-carteira-de-identidade-nao-tera-campo-sexo-nem-distincao-entre-nome-e-nome-social-diz-governo.ghtml |website=G1 |language=pt-BR |access-date=2025-04-24}}

For the purpose of filling out and printing the Identity Card, the gender field must follow the ICAO standardization, with 1 character, M, F or X (for non-binary people). Since January 11, 2024, issuing bodies in the States and the Federal District have been obliged to adopt these Identity Card standards established by the Federal Government. The information in the gender field can be self-determined and self-declared by the person when filling in the data, at the Identification Institutes. In the current context, of the 3,502,816 IDs issued, there are 192 National Identity Cards, that is, 0.01% defined in the gender field as "X".{{Cite web |last=Presidência da República Federativa do Brasil |title=DECRETO Nº 10.977, DE 23 DE FEVEREIRO DE 2022 |url=https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/_ato2019-2022/2022/decreto/d10977.htm}}{{Cite web |last=CÂMARA-EXECUTIVA FEDERAL DE IDENTIFICAÇÃO DO CIDADÃO |title=RESOLUÇÃO Nº 9, DE 7 DE NOVEMBRO DE 2022 |url=https://www.gov.br/governodigital/pt-br/identificacao-do-cidadao/resolucao_n-9-de-7-de-novembro-de-2022.pdf}}

While requesting a new passport, Brazilians are able to select an unspecified sex. According to the Federal Police, the body responsible for issuing Brazilian passports, in response to the requirement for access to registered information, the "not specified" option, in these terms, was implemented in the application form passport application in 2007, with the advent of the "New Passport", popularly known as the "blue cape model". Before that, however, the option already existed, and was declared on printed and typed forms in the old "cover model" notebooks green". Following the international standard, the "unspecified" option is represented in the passport with the letter X, instead of the letters M or F, for male or female, respectively. The gender option contained in the passport must reflect the information expressed in the birth certificate or other official identification document. I.e, whenever the information expressed on the certificate is different from "male" or "female", the alternative will be used. The use of option X, or "not specified", comes from the international standard ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization), which specifies the printing of the "Gender of the holder" by "use of the initial letter commonly used in the country of origin", being "capital letter F for feminine, M for masculine, or X for unspecified". Following ICAO standards, among others, is precisely what confers recognition of a passport by other countries.{{Cite web |title=Nova solicitação de passaporte - Portal da Polícia Federal |trans-title=New passport application |url=https://servicos.dpf.gov.br/sinpa/inicializacaoSolicitacao.do?dispatch=inicializarSolicitacaoPassaporte |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160520081137/https://servicos.dpf.gov.br/sinpa/inicializacaoSolicitacao.do?dispatch=inicializarSolicitacaoPassaporte |archive-date=2016-05-20 |website=Federal Police of Brazil}}{{Cite web |date=2022-09-20 |title=O atual entendimento legal sobre o gênero não binário |url=https://www.migalhas.com.br/depeso/373789/o-atual-entendimento-legal-sobre-o-genero-nao-binario |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=Migalhas |language=pt-br}}

Since 12 September 2021, by decision of the National Justice Council, notaries must register intersex children with the sex ignored on birth certificates.{{Cite web |title=Provimento Nº 122 de 13/08/2021 |url=https://atos.cnj.jus.br/atos/detalhar/4066 |website=Conselho Nacional de Justiça (CNJ)}}{{Cite web |title=Provimento do CNJ sobre registro de crianças intersexo com "sexo ignorado" já vale em todo o país |url=https://ibdfam.org.br/noticias/8905/ |access-date=2022-04-06 |website=IBDFAM}}{{Cite web |title=Em três anos, região têm 18 registros de crianças com sexo ignorado; nova norma facilita certidão para 'intersexos' |url=https://g1.globo.com/sp/campinas-regiao/noticia/2021/08/29/em-tres-anos-regiao-tem-18-registros-de-criancas-com-sexo-ignorado-nova-norma-facilita-certidao-para-intersexos.ghtml |access-date=2022-04-06 |website=G1 |date=29 August 2021 |language=pt-br}}{{Cite web |title=Decisão do CNJ deixa certidão de nascimento de intersexos menos burocrática |url=https://www.uol.com.br/universa/noticias/redacao/2021/09/13/intersexos-poderao-ser-registrados-com-o-sexo-ignorado-na-certidao.htm |access-date=2022-04-06 |website=Universo Online (UOL) |language=pt-br}}

The state of Rio de Janeiro, thanks to the work of the State Public Defender's Office, has been allowing non-binary people to register their birth certificates and identity cards with the "non-binary" gender in gender-neutral language.{{Cite web |title=Gênero 'não binarie' é incluído em certidões de nascimento no Rio |url=https://g1.globo.com/rj/rio-de-janeiro/noticia/2022/01/30/genero-nao-binarie-e-incluido-em-certidoes-de-nascimento-no-rio.ghtml |access-date=2022-04-06 |website=G1 |date=30 January 2022 |language=pt-br}}{{Cite web |title=Gênero 'não binárie' é incluído na carteira de identidade no RJ |url=https://g1.globo.com/rj/rio-de-janeiro/noticia/2022/04/05/genero-nao-binarie-e-incluido-na-carteira-de-identidade-no-rj.ghtml |access-date=2022-04-06 |website=G1 |date=5 April 2022 |language=pt-br}}

On April 22, 2022, Rio Grande do Sul Justice assured non-binary people to change their first name and sex in their birth record, according to their self-perceived identity, regardless of judicial authorization, allowing include the expression "non-binary" in the sex field upon a request made by the interested party to a notary's office.{{Cite web |date=2022-04-23 |title=Após pedido da DPE/RS, Cartórios passam a aceitar o termo não binário nos registros civis |url=https://www.defensoria.rs.def.br/apos-pedido-da-dpe-rs-cartorios-passam-a-aceitar-o-termo-nao-binario-nos-registros-civis |access-date=2022-04-23 |website=Defensoria Pública do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul |language=pt-BR}}{{Cite web |title=Justiça autoriza pessoas não binárias a mudar registros de prenome e gênero em cartórios do RS |url=https://g1.globo.com/rs/rio-grande-do-sul/noticia/2022/04/23/justica-autoriza-pessoas-nao-binarias-a-mudar-registros-de-prenome-e-genero-em-cartorios-do-rs.ghtml |access-date=2022-04-23 |website=G1 |date=23 April 2022 |language=pt-br}}

On May 9, 2022, Bahia Justice publishes provision allowing the inclusion of “non-binary” gender in the Civil Registry.{{Cite web |date=2022-05-11 |title=Justiça da BA publica provimento permitindo a inclusão de gênero "não binário" no Registro Civil |url=https://arpenbrasil.org.br/justica-da-ba-publica-provimento-permitindo-a-inclusao-de-genero-nao-binario-no-registro-civil/ |access-date=2022-05-12 |website=Arpen Brasil - Saiba Mais |language=pt-BR}}{{Cite web |date=2022-05-12 |title=Pessoas não-binárias poderão alterar nome e gênero em registro de nascimento sem autorização judicial na Bahia |url=https://www.mpba.mp.br/noticia/62376 |access-date=2022-05-12 |website=Ministério Público do Estado da Bahia |language=pt-br}}

In 2023, Paraíba, Paraná, Tocantins, and Federal District recognized non-binary gender markers.{{Cite web |title=TJPR orienta Registradores Civis a utilizarem o termo "não binário" |url=https://site.mppr.mp.br/civel/Noticia/TJPR-orienta-Registradores-Civis-utilizarem-o-termo-nao-binario |access-date=2023-09-04 |website=Ministério Público do Estado do Paraná |language=pt-br}}{{Cite web |last=Paraíba |first=Jornal da |date=2023-01-27 |title=Pessoas não binárias podem alterar nome no registro civil, na Paraíba |url=https://jornaldaparaiba.com.br/justica/pessoas-nao-binarias-podem-alterar-nome-no-registro-civil-na-paraiba/ |access-date=2023-09-04 |website=jornaldaparaiba.com.br |language=pt-BR}}{{Cite web |date=2023-08-23 |title=Pessoas não-binárias podem pedir mudança de nome e gênero diretamente nos cartórios do DF; veja como fazer |url=https://g1.globo.com/df/distrito-federal/noticia/2023/08/23/pessoas-nao-binarias-podem-pedir-mudanca-de-nome-e-genero-diretamente-nos-cartorios-do-df-veja-como-fazer.ghtml |access-date=2023-09-04 |website=G1 |language=pt-br}}{{Cite web |last=Corregedoria-Geral da Justiça do Estado do Tocantins |title=Provimento Nº 3 - CGJUS/2JACGJUS (Art. 780, § 4º) |url=https://wwa.tjto.jus.br/elegis/Home/Imprimir/3371}} However, in October 2023, the National Justice Council, at the request of the TJES, issued a document precluding "non-binary" as a gender marker. The document quotes Luiz Fux, who claimed that “(…) There is no third gender, nor is this the claim”.{{Cite web |title=08/01/2024 – CNJ – Corregedoria Nacional de Justiça publica Decisão que aprimora as regras de averbação de alteração de nome, de gênero ou de ambos de pessoas transgênero – Anoreg-pb |url=https://anoregpb.org.br/08-01-2024-cnj-corregedoria-nacional-de-justica-publica-decisao-que-aprimora-as-regras-de-averbacao-de-alteracao-de-nome-de-genero-ou-de-ambos-de-pessoas-transgenero/ |access-date=2024-04-02 |language=pt-BR}}{{Cite web |url=https://atos.cnj.jus.br/atos/detalhar/5283 |title=Provimento Nº 152 de 26/09/2023 |date=2023 |language=Portuguese |access-date=May 26, 2024 |website=Atos |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231111230253/https://atos.cnj.jus.br/atos/detalhar/5283 |archive-date=November 11, 2023}} In November 2023, TJPR revoked non-binary recognition, establishing that the right to administrative replacement of first name and sex in civil registration does not cover the possibility of expanding genders, limited to “male” and “female”.{{Cite web |title=DECISÃO Nº 9746572 - GC SEI! 0134225-12.2022.8.16.6000 I. |url=https://portal.tjpr.jus.br/publicacao_documentos/documentos/carregarAnexo.do;jsessionid=52966ebac5da2eed2ea4e1ba8cc7?tjpr.url.crypto=16c74de0ca500657646dccb5c51575df325ebc7f1f365da88c8cb02ed92fea40cbeb7119e5819668 |website=tjpr.jus.br}} TJRS, in December 2023, also revoked the provision that recognized non-binary rectification in the state of Rio Grande do Sul.{{Cite web |last=Anoreg/RS |title=Provimento nº 46/2023-CGJ revoga o Provimento nº 16/22 e altera artigos da CNNR – Anoreg RS |url=https://anoregrs.org.br/2023/12/19/provimento-no-46-2023-cgj-revoga-o-provimento-no-16-22-e-altera-artigos-da-cnnr/ |access-date=2024-04-02 |language=pt-BR}}

In January 2024, a public civil action by the Federal Court of Paraná determined that the Federal Revenue must include the options "unspecified", "non-binary" and "intersex" in the sex field of the CPF, guaranteeing the right to rectification to those who interest.{{Cite web |last=Santos |first=Rafa |date=2024-01-30 |title=União terá de adequar formulários do CPF para incluir diversos gêneros |url=https://www.conjur.com.br/2024-jan-29/uniao-tera-de-adequar-formularios-do-cpf-para-incluir-diversos-generos/ |access-date=2024-04-02 |website=Consultor Jurídico}}

On 6 May 2025, the Superior Court of Justice decided that it is possible to rectify the civil registry to include the neutral gender. The Superior Court's decision only affects the plaintiff, but serves as a precedent that can be followed in similar cases.{{Cite web |last=Folha de São Paulo |title=STJ autoriza registro de gênero neutro em documento de identificação |url=https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/cotidiano/2025/05/stj-autoriza-registro-de-genero-neutro-em-documento-de-identificacao.shtml}}{{Cite web |last=g1 |title=Em decisão inédita, STJ autoriza alteração em registro civil para gênero neutro |url=https://g1.globo.com/politica/noticia/2025/05/07/em-decisao-inedita-stj-autoriza-alteracao-em-registro-civil-para-genero-neutro.ghtml}}

{{See also|Intersex rights in Canada|Transgender rights in Canada}}

As of 2017, Ontario drivers have the option to display "X" as a gender identifier on their driver's licenses.{{Cite web |date=June 29, 2016 |title=Gender on Health Cards and Driver's Licences |url=https://news.ontario.ca/mgs/en/2016/06/gender-on-health-cards-and-drivers-licences.html |access-date=November 7, 2016 |website=Government of Ontario}} Since 2016, Ontario health cards do not carry a gender or sex marker,{{cite web |title=Gender on Health Cards and Driver's Licences |url=https://news.ontario.ca/en/backgrounder/40957/gender-on-health-cards-and-drivers-licences |website=Ontario Newsroom |access-date=25 March 2025 |date=June 29, 2016}} though a binary gender is still tracked for use in medical appointments.{{cn|date=April 2025}}

In April 2017, a baby born in British Columbia, Searyl Atli Doty, became the first in the world known to be issued a health card with a gender-neutral "U" sex marker. The parent, Kori Doty, who is non-binary transgender, wanted to give the child the opportunity to discover their own gender identity.{{Cite news |last=de Silva |first=Charmaine |date=June 30, 2017 |title=B.C. baby first to get health card without gender marker |work=Global News |url=http://globalnews.ca/news/3568563/bc-baby-first-to-get-health-card-without-gender-marker/ |access-date=July 1, 2017}}{{Cite news |last=Rahim |first=Zamira |date=July 5, 2017 |title=Canadian baby given health card without sex designation |work=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/07/04/health/canadian-baby-gender-designation/index.html |access-date=July 5, 2017}} The province has refused to issue a birth certificate to the child without specifying a gender; Doty has filed a legal challenge.{{Cite news |last=Kassam |first=Ashifa |date=July 6, 2017 |title='The system's violating everyone': the Canadian trans parent fighting to keep gender off cards |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jul/06/the-systems-violating-everyone-the-canadian-trans-parent-fighting-to-keep-gender-off-cards |access-date=July 6, 2017}} Doty and seven other transgender and intersex people have filed a human rights complaint against the province, alleging that publishing gender markers on birth certificates is discriminatory.

In July 2017, the Northwest Territories began allowing "X" as a non-binary option on birth certificates.{{Cite news |last=Strong |first=Walter |date=July 15, 2017 |title=Transgender N.W.T., residents can now change birth certificates to reflect gender |work=CBC News |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/nwt-transgender-legislation-changes-1.4206782 |access-date=July 20, 2017}}

On August 31, 2017, the federal government began allowing an observation to be added to passports requesting that the holder's gender should be read as "X", indicating that it is unspecified, though a gender of "M" or "F" had to be added as a gender for an undefined period to comply with legal requirements of other countries.{{Cite web |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-passports/change-sex.html |date=August 31, 2017 |title=Change the sex on your passport or travel document |website=Government of Canada |access-date=May 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180119120450/https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-passports/change-sex.html |archive-date=January 19, 2018}}{{Cite news |date=August 24, 2017 |title=Canadian Passports to have 'X' gender starting Aug. 31 |work=Global News |url=http://globalnews.ca/news/3694753/canadian-passports-x-gender/ |access-date=August 24, 2017}}{{Cite news |last=Busby |first=Mattha |date=August 31, 2017 |title=Canada introduces gender-neutral 'X' option on passports |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/aug/31/canada-introduces-gender-neutral-x-option-on-passports |access-date=August 31, 2017}} In June 2019, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada announced that non-binary people may also apply to have an "X" gender marker.{{Cite web |last=Dixon |first=Nick |date=1 June 2019 |title=Feds to allow non-binary citizens to mark gender with "X" on passports |url=https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/mobile/feds-to-allow-non-binary-citizens-to-mark-gender-with-x-on-passports-1.4447570? |website=CTV News Toronto}}

{{Further|LGBT rights in Chile#Gender identity and expression}}

A ruling of the Third Family Court of Santiago, issued on April 25, 2022, ordered the Civil Registry and Identification Service to register a 17-year-old adolescent with non-binary gender on the birth certificate, being the first judicial resolution of its kind in the country.{{Cite web |title=Tercer Juzgado de Familia de Santiago acogió solicitud de inscribir a adolescente con registro no binario |url=https://www.pjud.cl/prensa-y-comunicaciones/noticias-del-poder-judicial/73354 |date=May 6, 2022 |access-date=May 26, 2024 |website=Poder Judicial |language=es |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220506185931/https://www.pjud.cl/prensa-y-comunicaciones/noticias-del-poder-judicial/73354 |archive-date=May 6, 2022}} On May 25, 2022, the First Civil Court of Santiago issued a ruling recognizing an adult person as non-binary and ordering the Civil Registry to rectify the birth certificate, in which the marker "X" will appear instead of " female or male."{{Cite web |title=Clínica Jurídica U. de Chile logra primer fallo que reconoce género no binario a persona mayor de edad |url=https://www.uchile.cl/noticias/188028/clinica-juridica-logra-primer-fallo-que-reconoce-a-persona-no-binaria |access-date=May 26, 2024 |website=Universidad de Chile |date=8 July 2022 |language=es |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220710233748/https://www.uchile.cl/noticias/188028/clinica-juridica-logra-primer-fallo-que-reconoce-a-persona-no-binaria |archive-date=July 10, 2022}}{{Cite web |last=Rojas |first=Trinidad |date=12 September 2022 |title=Me llamo Indra y soy una persona no binaria |url=https://www.latercera.com/paula/me-llamo-indra-y-soy-una-persona-no-binaria/ |access-date=17 October 2022 |website=La Tercera |language=es}} On October 14, 2022, the Civil Registry officially issued to Shane Cienfuegos the first non-binary identity card with the marker "X" in the country. In July 2022, the Thirteenth Chamber of the Santiago Court of Appeals had ruled in favor of the request to rectify the birth certificate to recognize non-binary gender identity.{{Cite news |title=Chile issues first non-binary national identity document |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/chile-issues-first-non-binary-national-identity-document/2022/10/14/707cce10-4c0d-11ed-8153-96ee97b218d2_story.html |access-date=17 October 2022}}{{Cite web |date=14 October 2022 |title=Chile entrega la primera cédula de identidad no binaria |url=https://agenciapresentes.org/2022/10/14/chile-entrega-la-primera-cedula-de-identidad-no-binaria/ |access-date=17 October 2022 |website=Agencia Presentes |language=es}}

{{Further|LGBT rights in Colombia#Gender identity and expression|Travesti (gender identity)}}

In February 2022, the Constitutional Court of Colombia ruled that a non-binary person was entitled to a birth certificate from the Ninth Notary of Medellín and citizen's identity card from the National Civil Registry with the marker "no binario" or "NB" in the sex field on both. The court also ordered the Colombian government to facilitate the inclusion of such a marker on identity documents and ordered the Congress to amend laws as needed to facilitate legal recognition of non-binary individuals' rights.{{cite web |url=https://www.corteconstitucional.gov.co/Relatoria/2022/T-033-22.htm |title=Acción de tutela instaurada por Dani García Pulgarín contra la Registraduría Nacional del Estado Civil y la Notaría Novena de Medellín |website=Corte Constitucional |language=Spanish |access-date=May 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220301171201/https://www.corteconstitucional.gov.co/Relatoria/2022/T-033-22.htm |archive-date=March 1, 2022}}{{Cite web |title=Colombia's Constitutional Court Advances Gender Diversity |url=https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/03/08/colombias-constitutional-court-advances-gender-diversity |author=Cristian Gonzalez Cabrera |date=March 8, 2022 |access-date=May 26, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220308190453/https://www.hrw.org/news/2022/03/08/colombias-constitutional-court-advances-gender-diversity |archive-date=March 8, 2022}}

{{further|LGBT rights in Denmark}}

{{see also|LGBT rights in Greenland|LGBT rights in the Faroe Islands}}

According to comment by Transgender Europe, Danish citizens (including Greenlandic- and Faroese nationals) have been issued passport with option 'X' upon application, without medical requirements.{{Cite web |date=2014-09-12 |title=Denmark: X in Passports and New Trans Law Works |url=https://tgeu.org/denmark-x-in-passports-and-new-trans-law-work/ |access-date=2018-10-20 |publisher=Transgender Europe}} However, it follows from the Danish Passport Regulations [https://www.retsinformation.dk/Forms/R0710.aspx?id=159226]{{Cite web |title=§2, Imm. 3, Qitiusumik Inunnik Nalunaarsuiffik pillugu inatsisip (CPR pillugu inatsit) allanngortinneqarneranik inatsisit Kalaallit Nunaannut atuutilersinneqarnerannik peqqussut (Greenlandic) |url=https://www.stm.dk/multimedia/A_449_23.5._for_Gr_nland_af_lov_om__ndring_af_lov_om_Det_Centrale_Personregister.pdf |access-date=2020-09-01}}{{Cite web |title=§2, Stk 3., Anordning om ikrafttræden for Grønland af love om ændring af lov om Det Centrale Personregister (Danish) |url=https://www.retsinformation.dk/eli/lta/2016/449/Pdf |access-date=2020-09-01}}{{Cite web |title=§ 5., Stk. 5, Bekendtgørelse for Færøerne om pas m.v. (Danish) |url=https://www.retsinformation.dk/eli/lta/2012/994/Pdf |access-date=2020-09-05}} that persons with even personal identification numbers receive the gender marker "F" and persons with odd personal identification numbers the gender marker "M" (§ 4(4)), with the only exception that persons who have not (yet) had an official gender change but to whom the National Hospital's Sexological Clinic has certified that they are transsexual can obtain the gender marker "X" (§ 4(5)). Accordingly, legal gender remains binary in Denmark (including Greenland and the Faroe Islands) and only transsexual people without a legal gender change can obtain an X marker in their passport.

{{further|Intersex rights in Germany|LGBT rights in Germany}}

File:Aktion Standesamt 2018 Abschlusskundgebung vor dem Kanzleramt in Berlin 46 (cropped).png

File:Reisepass_X.jpg

Germany is thought to be the first European country that recognizes "indeterminate" sex on birth certificates, which is materialized by the absence of any gender marker, from November 2013. A report by the German Ethics Council stated that the law was passed because "Many people who were subjected to a 'normalizing' operation in their childhood have later felt it to have been a mutilation and would never have agreed to it as adults."{{Cite web |title=Third sex option on birth certificates |url=http://www.dw.de/third-sex-option-on-birth-certificates/a-17193869 |access-date=27 December 2014 |website=DW.DE}} Deutsche Welle reported that an "indeterminate" 'option' was made available for the birth certificates of intersex infants with ambiguous genitalia on 1 November 2013. The move is controversial with many intersex advocates in Germany and elsewhere suggesting that it might encourage surgical interventions, or simply fails to address the key health concerns of intersex people.[http://www.advocate.com/commentary/2013/11/06/op-ed-germany’s-third-gender-law-fails-equality Hida Viloria, The Advocate, "Op-ed: Germany's Third-Gender Law Fails on Equality"][http://oii.org.au/23183/germany-third-gender-birth-certificates/ German proposals for a "third gender" on birth certificates miss the mark] Organisation Intersex International Australia, 20 August 2013.[http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/third-gender-option-in-germany-a-small-step-for-intersex-recognition-a-917650.html Third Gender: A Step Toward Ending Intersex Discrimination], Der Spiegel, 22 August 2013. On 21 January 2015, the Celle Court of Appeals confirmed in a judgment{{Cite web |date=January 21, 2015 |title=In der Personenstandssache geb. Antragstellerin und Beschwerdefuhrerin |url=http://www.lsvd.de/fileadmin/pics/Dokumente/Rechtsprechung6/OLGCelle150121.pdf |access-date=May 16, 2021 |language=German}} that intersex people cannot obtain a gender marker other than "female" or "male" in their birth certificate, but only the absence of any such marker. The court held at the same time that even an adult intersex person who was registered with a gender marker at birth can obtain the deletion of that gender marker. This judgment was sent for review by the Federal Court of Justice.{{Cite web |title=Geschlechtseintrag Inter/Divers: Beschwerdebegründung beim BGH eingereicht (Gender marker "inter/other": Reasons for appeal lodged with Federal Court of Justice) |url=http://dritte-option.de/geschlechtseintrag-interdivers-beschwerdebegruendung-beim-bgh-eingereicht |access-date=27 May 2015 |website=dritte-option.de|date=24 April 2015 }}

On 8 November 2017, the Federal Constitutional Court released a press statement about its ruling from 10 October 2017, which is in favour of a positive third gender option instead of no entry.{{Cite web |title=Bundesverfassungsgericht Press Release No. 95/2017 of 08 November 2017: Civil Status Law Must Allow a Third Gender Option |url=https://www.bundesverfassungsgericht.de/SharedDocs/Pressemitteilungen/EN/2017/bvg17-095.html |access-date=8 November 2017 |website=bundesverfassungsgericht.de}} On 15 August 2018, the German government approved a draft law allowing a third gender option on birth certificates for babies who are not distinctly male or female.{{Cite news |title=Germany paves way for 'third gender' option at birth |work=SBS News |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/germany-paves-way-for-third-gender-option-at-birth |access-date=2018-08-16}} On 22 December 2018, the adopted third gender law entered into force, allowing the choice for intersex people (both at birth and at a later age) between "female", "male", "diverse" and no gender marker at all. In case of a change later in life, first names can also be changed.[http://www.bgbl.de/xaver/bgbl/start.xav?startbk=Bundesanzeiger_BGBl&jumpTo=bgbl118s2635.pdf Gesetz zur Änderung der in das Geburtenregister einzutragenden Angaben (Act modifying the information to be entered into the birth register)] To change the marker and/or names according to this law, a doctor's note is required, but it is not specified what kind of "variance of gender development" is required for the law.{{Cite web |title=Ratgeber für inter- und transgeschlechtliche Menschen |url=https://www.lsvd.de/recht/ratgeber/intersexuelle/ratgeber-fuer-inter-und-transgeschlechtliche-menschen.html |language=German |access-date=May 26, 2024 |website=Lesben und Schwulenverband |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402215640/https://www.lsvd.de/recht/ratgeber/intersexuelle/ratgeber-fuer-inter-und-transgeschlechtliche-menschen.html |archive-date=April 2, 2019}} As such, non-intersex non-binary people have made use of this law to change their markers and names as personally trusted doctors approve and give out such a required note nevertheless. In the meantime, an appeals court had held that a nonbinary status must also be open to non-intersex non-binary people; the adopted act does not address this category of people and their situation therefore first remained unclear pending additional case-law.[https://www.lsvd.de/fileadmin/pics/Dokumente/Rechtsprechung8/OLGCelle170511.pdf Celle Court of Appeal, decision of 11 May 2017]. On 22 April 2020, the Federal Court of Justice ruled that in order to obtain nonbinary status, these persons must follow the procedure set out in the legislation on transsexuality which applies by analogy, after which they can also choose between "diverse" and no gender marker at all.Federal Court of Justice, [http://juris.bundesgerichtshof.de/cgi-bin/rechtsprechung/document.py?Gericht=bgh&Art=en&nr=106062 Order of 22 April 2020, ref. XII ZB 383/19].

On April 12, 2024, the Bundestag passed the Self-Determination Act ({{Langx|de|Gesetz über die Selbstbestimmung in Bezug auf den Geschlechtseintrag (SBGG)}}). The law allows all German citizens to change both their gender record/marker and first names through a decleration to the registry office.{{Cite web |date=2024-06-21 |title=BGBl. 2024 I Nr. 206 vom 21.06.2024 |url=https://www.recht.bund.de/bgbl/1/2024/206/regelungstext.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&v=3 |access-date=2024-09-26 |website=Bundesgesetzblatt |language=de}} Aside from binary markers "Male" and "Female", the entry "diverse" may be chosen. Alternatively the gender entry may be removed entirely. Both "diverse", as well as no entry, are represented by the letter 'X' on passports. Notably, any citizen may make this declarion to the registry office without any further medical/legal requirements after giving 3 month prior notice. On November 1, 2024, The Self-Determination Act came into force, repealing the Transsexual Law (TSG) and amending the Third Gender Law to allow the legal recognition of non-intersex non-binary people as "diverse". Persons aged 14 to 18 years can change their gender on government documents in the presence of their parents. If the parents do not approve a change, the child can go in front of a family court. For individuals under the age of 14, parental guardians are authorized to modify their child's gender designation. This requires the child's consent from the age of 5 onwards.{{cite web |author-last= |author-first= |date=12 April 2024 |title=Bestätigter Gesetzesentwurf zum Selbstbestimmungsgesetz |url=https://dserver.bundestag.de/btd/20/090/2009049.pdf |access-date=12 April 2024}}.

{{main|LGBT rights in Iceland}}

In June 2019, the Icelandic Parliament voted 45–0 on a bill to implement a progressive "self-determination gender change model law", similar to numerous European and South American countries. The bill includes a third gender option known as "X" on official documents.{{Cite web |last=Elliott |first=Alexander |date=19 June 2019 |title=New law to help trans and intersex people |url=https://www.ruv.is/frett/new-law-to-help-trans-and-intersex-people |website=RÚV.is}}{{Cite web |last=Crittenton |first=Anya |date=20 June 2019 |title=Iceland passes identification law dismissing lengthy medical process for trans people |url=https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/iceland-identification-law/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190622000113/https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/iceland-identification-law/ |archive-date=22 June 2019 |access-date=26 June 2019 |website=Gay Star News}}{{Cite web |last=Fontaine |first=Andie |date=19 June 2019 |title=Iceland Passes Major Gender Identity Law: "The Fight Is Far From Over" |url=https://grapevine.is/news/2019/06/19/iceland-passes-major-gender-identity-law-the-fight-is-far-from-over/ |website=The Reykjavík Grapevine}}{{Cite web |date=21 June 2019 |title=On trans issues, Iceland has just Britain to shame |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/jun/21/trans-issues-britain-iceland-law-intersex-rights |website=The Guardian}} The law went into effect on 1 January 2020.{{Cite web |date=21 June 2019 |title=Gender Autonomy Act Applauded |url=https://icelandmonitor.mbl.is/news/politics_and_society/2019/06/21/gender_autonomy_act_applauded/ |website=Iceland Monitor}}

{{See also|Transgender rights in Tamil Nadu}}

File:Kuvagam hijras.jpg "brides" of Aravan—mourn his death|alt=A group of seated transgender people and/or eunuchs dressed in saris mourn.]]

The Hijra of India are probably the most well known and populous third sex type in the modern world – Mumbai-based community health organization The Humsafar Trust estimates there are between 5 and 6 million hijras in India. In different areas they are known as Aravani/Aruvani or Jogappa. Often (somewhat misleadingly) called eunuchs in English, they may be born intersex or apparently male, dress in feminine clothes and generally see themselves as neither men nor women. Only eight percent of hijras visiting Humsafar clinics are nirwaan (castrated). Indian photographer Dayanita Singh writes about her friendship with a Hijra, Mona Ahmed, and their two different societies' beliefs about gender: "When I once asked her if she would like to go to Singapore for a sex change operation, she told me, 'You really do not understand. I am the third sex, not a man trying to be a woman. It is your society's problem that you only recognize two sexes.'"Myself Mona Ahmed. by Dayanita Singh (Photographer) and Mona Ahmed. Scalo Publishers (September 15, 2001). {{ISBN|3-908247-46-2}} Hijra social movements have campaigned for recognition as a third sex,{{Cite news |last=Beary |first=Habib |date=4 September 2003 |title=India's eunuchs demand rights |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3080116.stm}} and in 2005, Indian passport application forms were updated with three gender options: M, F, and E (for male, female, and eunuch, respectively).'Third sex' finds a place on Indian passport forms, The Telegraph, March 10, 2005. {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20071225142024/http://www.infochangeindia.org/archives1.jsp?secno=13&monthname=June&year=2005&detail=T Article online]}} Some Indian languages such as Sanskrit have three gender 'options'— specifically masculine, feminine and neuter forms of nouns.

In November 2009, India agreed to list eunuchs and transgender people as "others", distinct from males and females, in voting rolls and voter identity cards.{{Cite news |date=December 23, 2009 |title=Pakistani eunuchs to have distinct gender |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8428819.stm |access-date=2009-12-23}} On April 15, 2014, the Supreme Court of India recognized a third gender that is neither male nor female, and as a class entitled to reservation in education and jobs, stating "Recognition of transgenders as a third gender is not a social or medical issue but a human rights issue." This verdict made India one of the few countries to give this landmark judgment.{{Cite web |date=April 15, 2014 |title=Transgenders are the 'third gender', rules Supreme Court |url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/transgenders-are-the-third-gender-rules-supreme-court-508705 |access-date=April 15, 2014 |publisher=NDTV}}{{Cite web |title=Supreme Court's Third Gender Status to Transgenders is a landmark |url=http://news.biharprabha.com/2014/04/supreme-courts-third-gender-status-to-transgenders-is-a-landmark/ |access-date=15 April 2014 |website=IANS |publisher=news.biharprabha.com}}

In addition to the feminine role of hijras, which is widespread across the subcontinent, a few occurrences of institutionalized "female masculinity" have been noted in modern India. Among the Gaddhi in the foothills of the Himalayas, some girls adopt a role as a sadhin, renouncing marriage, and dressing and working as men, but retaining female names and pronouns.{{Cite journal |last=Phillimore |first=P. |year=1991 |title=Unmarried Women of the Dhaula Dhar: Celibacy and Social Control in Northwest India |journal=Journal of Anthropological Research |volume=47 |issue=3 |pages=331–350 |doi=10.1086/jar.47.3.3630617 |jstor=3630617 |s2cid=164121187}} A late-nineteenth century anthropologist noted the existence of a similar role in Madras, that of the basivi.Fawcett, Fred (1891). On Basivis: Women Who, through Dedication to a Deity, Assume Masculine Privileges. Journal of the Anthropological Society of Bombay (July). Bombay: Education Society's Press; London: Treubner. However, historian Walter Penrose concludes that in both cases "their status is perhaps more 'transgendered' than 'third-gendered.'"{{Cite journal |last=Penrose |first=Walter |year=2001 |title=Hidden in History: Female Homoeroticism and Women of a "Third Nature" in the South Asian Past |journal=Journal of the History of Sexuality |volume=10 |pages=3–39 |doi=10.1353/sex.2001.0018 |s2cid=142955490}}

In April 2014, Justice KS Radhakrishnan, of Supreme Court of India declared transgender to be the third gender in Indian law, in a case brought by the National Legal Services Authority (Nalsa) against Union of India and others.{{Cite news |date=15 April 2014 |title=India recognises transgender people as third gender |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/apr/15/india-recognises-transgender-people-third-gender |access-date=15 April 2014}}{{Cite news |last=McCoy |first=Terrence |date=15 April 2014 |title=India now recognizes transgender citizens as 'third gender' |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/04/15/india-now-recognizes-transgender-citizens-as-third-gender/?tid=hp_mm |access-date=15 April 2014}}{{Cite news |date=15 April 2014 |title=Supreme Court recognizes transgenders as 'third gender' |work=Times of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Supreme-Court-recognizes-transgenders-as-third-gender/articleshow/33767900.cms |access-date=15 April 2014}} The ruling said:{{cite court

|litigants= National Legal Services Authority ... Petitioner Versus Union of India and others ... Respondents

|court=Supreme Court of India

|date=15 April 2014

|url=http://pastebin.com/9a5g8Qmr

|access-date=15 April 2014

}}

Seldom, our society realizes or cares to realize the trauma, agony and pain which the members of Transgender community undergo, nor appreciates the innate feelings of the members of the Transgender community, especially of those whose mind and body disown their biological sex. Our society often ridicules and abuses the Transgender community and in public places like railway stations, bus stands, schools, workplaces, malls, theatres, hospitals, they are sidelined and treated as untouchables, forgetting the fact that the moral failure lies in the society's unwillingness to contain or embrace different gender identities and expressions, a mindset which we have to change.

Justice Radhakrishnan said that transgender people should be treated consistently with other minorities under the law, enabling them to access jobs, healthcare and education.{{Cite news |date=15 April 2014 |title=India court recognises transgender people as third gender |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-27031180 |access-date=15 April 2014}} He framed the issue as one of human rights, saying that, "These TGs, even though insignificant in numbers, are still human beings and therefore they have every right to enjoy their human rights", concluding by declaring that:

1. Hijras, Eunuchs, apart from binary gender, be treated as "third gender" for the purpose of safeguarding their rights under Part III of our Constitution and the laws made by the Parliament and the State Legislature.
2. Transgender persons' right to decide their self-identified gender is also upheld and the Centre and State Governments are directed to grant legal recognition of their gender identity such as male, female or as third gender.

In 2022, Kenya passed the Children Act 2022, requiring an "I" gender marker for intersex people.{{cite news |last1=Kisika |first1=Sam |title=Landmark intersex rights law takes effect in Kenya |url=https://www.washingtonblade.com/2022/08/08/landmark-intersex-rights-law-takes-effect-in-kenya/ |access-date=23 January 2025 |work=Washington Blade |date=August 8, 2022}}

In May 2018, Leonne Zeegers was the first Dutch citizen to receive the "X" marked gender on the passport instead of "male" or "female" (see photo of the person's passport [https://www.bndestem.nl/breda/leonne-zeegers-uit-breda-is-nu-officieel-genderneutraal-overheid-heeft-schop-onder-de-kont-gekregen~ab999bc2/134393893/ here]). Leonne, then 57, was born intersex and raised male, before having gender reassignment surgery and become female, but still identifies as an intersex person. Leonne won a court case which meant that preventing someone from registering officially as gender neutral is a "violation of private life, self-determination and personal autonomy". It will, however, still be the decision of the court on whether the "X" will be issued on anyone's passport in the future. The ruling opened doors for Dutch LGBT groups to ask the government for anyone to be able to identify as gender neutral in the future.{{Cite news |date=2018-10-19 |title=Leonne Zeegers uit Breda is nu officieel genderneutraal: 'Overheid heeft schop onder de kont gekregen' |language=nl-NL |work=BN De Stem |url=https://www.bndestem.nl/breda/leonne-zeegers-uit-breda-is-nu-officieel-genderneutraal-overheid-heeft-schop-onder-de-kont-gekregen~ab999bc2/ |access-date=2018-12-24}}

{{See also| LGBT rights in Nepal}}

On 27 December 2007, the Supreme Court of Nepal issued a decision mandating that the government scrap all laws that discriminated based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity and establish a committee to study same-sex marriage policy.{{Cite news |last=Knight |first=Kyle |date=24 April 2012 |title=Nepal's Third Gender and the Recognition of Gender Identity |work=Huffington Post |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kyle-knight/nepal-third-gender_b_1447982.html |access-date=25 April 2012}} The court also established a third-gender category. Nepalese official documents afford citizens three gender options: male, female, and "others". This may include people who present or perform as a gender that is different from the one that was assigned to them at birth. Nepal's 2011 census was the first national census in the world to allow people to register as a gender other than male or female. However, it was reported that "logistical problems, discrimination on the part of census-takers, and fear among some third genders" were interfering with the process, and eventually the census was published only listing male and female, leaving non-binary people outside or forcing them in a gender that was not their own.{{Cite magazine |last=Knight |first=Kyle |date=2011-07-18 |title=What We Can Learn From Nepal's Inclusion of 'Third Gender' on Its 2011 Census |url=https://newrepublic.com/article/92076/nepal-census-third-gender-lgbt-sunil-pant |magazine=The New Republic |issn=0028-6583 |access-date=2019-03-05}} The 2007 supreme court decision ordered the government to issue citizenship ID cards that allowed "third-gender" or "other" to be listed. The court also ordered that the only requirements to identify as third-gender would be the person's own self-identification.

"Legal provisions should be made to provide for gender identity to the people of transgender or third gender, under which female third gender, male third gender and intersexual are grouped, as per the concerned person's self-feeling"{{Cite journal |date=April 2007 |title=Sunil Babu Pant and Others/ v. Nepal Government and Others, Supreme Court of Nepal |url=http://icj.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Sunil-Babu-Pant-and-Others-v.-Nepal-Government-and-Others-Supreme-Court-of-Nepal.pdf |url-status=dead |journal=National Judicial Academy Law Journal |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011064131/http://icj.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Sunil-Babu-Pant-and-Others-v.-Nepal-Government-and-Others-Supreme-Court-of-Nepal.pdf |archive-date=2016-10-11 |access-date=4 May 2016}}

More recent material indicates that this third option is not available to intersex persons.{{Cite book |last=Regmi |first=Esan |url=https://ihra.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Intersex-Stories-in-Nepal.pdf |title=Stories of Intersex People from Nepal |date=2016 |location=Kathmandu}}

{{further|Intersex rights in New Zealand|Transgender rights in New Zealand}}

Birth certificates are available at birth showing "indeterminate" sex if it is not possible to assign a sex. The New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs states, "A person's sex can be recorded as indeterminate at the time of birth if it cannot be ascertained that the person is either male or female, and there are a number of people so recorded."{{Cite web |title=General information regarding Declarations of Family Court as to sex to be shown on birth certificates |url=http://www.dia.govt.nz/diawebsite.nsf/Files/GeninfoDeclarationsofFamilyCourt/$file/GeninfoDeclarationsofFamilyCourt.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101116192415/http://www.dia.govt.nz/diawebsite.nsf/Files/GeninfoDeclarationsofFamilyCourt/$file/GeninfoDeclarationsofFamilyCourt.pdf |archive-date=November 16, 2010 |access-date=May 16, 2021 |publisher=Department of Internal Affairs}}

Passports are available from December 2012 with an 'X' sex descriptor, where "X" means "indeterminate/unspecified".{{Cite web |title=Transgender applicants – New Zealand Passports (passports.govt.nz) |url=http://www.passports.govt.nz/Transgender-applicants |access-date=27 December 2014}}{{Cite web |date=4 December 2012 |title=X marks the spot on passport for transgender travellers |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10852012 |access-date=May 16, 2021 |website=New Zealand Herald}} These were originally introduced for people transitioning gender.{{Cite journal |last=Jaimie Veale |year=2008 |title=The prevalence of transsexualism among New Zealand passport holders |url=https://www.academia.edu/167272 |journal=Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry |volume=42 |issue=10 |pages=887–889 |doi=10.1080/00048670802345490 |pmid=18777233 |access-date=27 December 2014 |s2cid=205398433}}

On 17 July 2015, Statistics New Zealand introduced the first version of a gender identity classification standard for statistical purposes.{{Cite news |last=Price |first=Rosanna |date=17 July 2015 |title=NZ introduces 'gender diverse' option |publisher=Fairfax New Zealand |url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/70335912/nz-introduces-gender-diverse-option |access-date=18 July 2015}}{{Cite web |title=Classifications and standards – Gender identity |url=http://www.stats.govt.nz/methods/classifications-and-standards/classification-related-stats-standards/gender-identity.aspx |access-date=18 July 2015 |publisher=Statistics New Zealand}} The current version of the standard was introduced in April 2021 with the option of three categories (male, female, or another gender) or five categories (cisgender male, cisgender female, transgender male, transgender female, or another gender).{{Cite web |title=Statistical standard for gender, sex, and variations of sex characteristics {{!}} Stats NZ |url=http://www.censustest.govt.nz/methods/statistical-standard-for-gender-sex-and-variations-of-sex-characteristics |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220106231056/http://www.censustest.govt.nz/methods/statistical-standard-for-gender-sex-and-variations-of-sex-characteristics |archive-date=2022-01-06 |access-date=2022-01-06 |website=www.censustest.govt.nz}}

In March 2017, an Aotearoa/New Zealand and Australian community statement called for an end to legal classification of sex, stating that legal third classifications, like binary classifications, were based on structural violence and failed to respect diversity and a "right to self-determination".

{{Main|Hijra (South Asia)}}

In Pakistan, the polite term is khwaja sara or "khwaja sira" (Urdu: خواجه سرا), as hijra and khusra are considered derogatory by the khawaja sara community and human rights activists in Pakistan."[http://tsq.dukejournals.org/content/3/1-2/158.abstract Khwaja Sira Activism: The Politics of Gender Ambiguity in Pakistan]" by Faris A. Khan (2016) in TSQ 3 (1–2): 158–164.{{Cite web |last=Beck |first=Charity |year=2013 |title=A Second Look at Pakistan's Third Gender |url=http://positiveimpactmagazine.com/a-second-look-at-pakistans-third-gender/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108085208/http://positiveimpactmagazine.com/a-second-look-at-pakistans-third-gender/ |archive-date=January 8, 2014 |access-date=May 16, 2021 |website=Positive Impact}} As most of Pakistan's official government and business documents are in English, the term "third gender" has been chosen to represent individuals (either male or female, neither, and/or both) that identify themselves as, transsexual, transgender person, cross-dresser (zenana in Urdu), transvestite, and eunuchs (narnbans in Urdu).{{Cite news |last=Burke |first=Jason |year=2013 |title=Pakistan's once-ridiculed transgender community fight elections for first time |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/may/09/pakistan-transgender-elections-campaign-trail}}{{Cite journal |last1=Abdullah |first1=M |last2=Basharat |first2=Zeeshan |year=2012 |title=Awareness about sexually transmitted infections among Hijra sex workers of Rawalpindi/Islamabad |journal=Pakistan Journal of Public Health |volume=2 |pages=40–45 |s2cid=54134786}}

In June 2009, the Supreme Court of Pakistan ordered a census of khawaja sara, who number between 80,000{{Cite news |date=December 24, 2009 |title=People defaulting on bank loans? Use eunuchs to recover: Pak SC |work=The Economic Times |publisher=Bennett Coleman |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/People-defaulting-on-bank-loans-Use-eunuchs-to-recover-Pak-SC/articleshow/5370938.cms |access-date=2009-12-23}} and 300,000 in Pakistan. In December 2009, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, the Chief Justice of Pakistan, ordered that the National Database and Registration Authority issue national identity cards to members of the community showing their distinct gender.{{Cite news |last=Masood, Salman |date=December 23, 2009 |title=Pakistan: A Legal Victory for Eunuchs |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/24/world/asia/24webbriefs-ALEGALVICTOR_BRF.html |access-date=2009-12-23}} "It's the first time in the 62-year history of Pakistan that such steps are being taken for our welfare", Almas Bobby, a khawaja sara association's president, said to Reuters, "It's a major step towards giving us respect and identity in society. We are slowly getting respect in society. Now people recognize that we are also human beings."{{Cite news |last=Haider, Zeeshan |date=December 23, 2009 |title=Pakistan's transvestites to get distinct gender |work=Reuters |url=http://in.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idINTRE5BM2BX20091223 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100115180041/http://in.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idINTRE5BM2BX20091223 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 15, 2010 |access-date=2009-12-23}}

The government of Prime Minister Imran Khan has started issuing national identity cards to khawaja Sara (trans) population in Pakistan. This is the first time in countries history, and a major change.{{citation needed|date=September 2024}}

In January 2018, it was announced that plans to introduce a third gender option on identification documents, such as passports and the National Identification cards, would be implemented in the near future. In November 2018, Chen Mei-ling, the Minister of the National Development Council, announced that these plans come into effect in 2020.{{Cite web |last=Power |first=Shannon |date=2018-11-22 |title=New national ID card will recognize trans as a third gender in Taiwan |url=https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/new-national-id-card-will-recognize-trans-as-a-third-gender-in-taiwan/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410042738/https://www.gaystarnews.com/article/new-national-id-card-will-recognize-trans-as-a-third-gender-in-taiwan/ |archive-date=2019-04-10 |access-date=2020-06-09 |website=Gay Star News |language=en-GB}}{{Cite news |date=2018-01-16 |title=Taiwan mulls third gender option on passports, IDs |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/taiwan-lgbt-idUSL8N1O61JZ |access-date=2020-06-09}}

Image:Nongthoomfairtex.jpg, a transgender Muay Thai boxer]]

Also commonly referred to as a third sex are the kathoeys (or "ladyboys") of Thailand.Totman, Richard, (2004). The Third Sex: Kathoey: Thailand's Ladyboys, Souvenir Press. {{ISBN|0-285-63668-5}} These are people whose assigned sex was male who identify and live as female. A significant number of Thais perceive kathoeys as belonging to a third gender, including many kathoeys themselves; others see them as second category women. Thai persons assigned male at birth undergoing sex-change operations are not uncommon occurrences, but they are still regarded as men on their identification documents. Despite this, Thai society remains one of the world's most tolerant towards kathoeys or the third gender.{{Cite news |last=Beech |first=Hannah |date=July 7, 2008 |title=Where The 'Ladyboys' Are |work=Time World |url=http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1820633,00.html |url-status=dead |access-date=10 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080708154644/http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1820633,00.html |archive-date=July 8, 2008}}Research and discussion paper: Language and identity in transgender: gender wars and the case of the Thai kathoey. Paper presented at the Hawaii conference on Social Sciences, Waikiki, June 2003. [http://web.hku.hk/~sjwinter/TransgenderASIA/paper_language_and_identity.htm Article online] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141117055249/http://web.hku.hk/~sjwinter/TransgenderASIA/paper_language_and_identity.htm |date=2014-11-17 }}. Researcher Sam Winter writes:

{{blockquote|We asked our 190 [kathoeys] to say whether they thought of themselves as men, women, {{lang|th-Latn|sao praphet song}} ["a second kind of woman"] or {{lang|th-Latn|kathoey}}. None thought of themselves as male, and only 11 percent saw themselves as {{lang|th-Latn|kathoey}} (i.e. 'non-male'). By contrast 45 percent thought of themselves as women, with another 36 percent as {{lang|th-Latn|sao praphet song}}... Unfortunately we did not include the category {{lang|th-Latn|phet tee sam}} (third sex/gender); conceivably if we had done so there may have been many respondents who would have chosen that term... Around 50 percent [of non-transgender Thais] see them as males with the mistaken minds, but the other half see them as either women born into the wrong body (around 15 percent) or as a third sex/gender (35 percent).Winter, Sam (2003). Research and discussion paper: Language and identity in transgender: gender wars and the case of the Thai kathoey. Paper presented at the Hawaii conference on Social Sciences, Waikiki, June 2003. [http://web.hku.hk/~sjwinter/TransgenderASIA/paper_language_and_identity.htm Article online] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141117055249/http://web.hku.hk/~sjwinter/TransgenderASIA/paper_language_and_identity.htm |date=2014-11-17 }}.}}

In 2004, the Chiang Mai Technology School allocated a separate lavatory for {{lang|th-Latn|kathoeys}}, with an intertwined male and female symbol on the door. The 15 {{lang|th-Latn|kathoey}} students are required to wear male clothing at school but are allowed to sport feminine hairdos. The restroom features four stalls, but no urinals.Transvestites Get Their Own School Bathroom, Associated Press, June 22, 2004.

Although {{lang|th-Latn|Kathoeys}} are still not fully respected, they are gradually gaining acceptance and have made themselves a very distinct part of the Thai society. This is especially true in the entertainment, business, and fashion industries in Thailand, where the {{lang|th-Latn|Kathoeys}} play significant roles in leadership and management positions. In addition, {{lang|th-Latn|Kathoeys}} or second-category-women are very sought after when businesses are hiring salespeople. In many job posts, it is common to see companies state that second-category-women are preferred as their sales force because they are generally seen as more charismatic and expressive individuals.{{Cite journal |last=Kang |first=Dredge |date=December 2012 |title=Kathoey In Trend: EmergentGenderscapes, National Anxieties and theRe-Signification of Male-BodiedEffeminacy in Thailand |url=https://www.academia.edu/2249093 |journal=Asian Studies Review |volume=36 |issue=4 |pages=475–494 |doi=10.1080/10357823.2012.741043 |s2cid=143293054}}

{{further|Intersex rights in the United Kingdom|Transgender rights in the United Kingdom}}

The title "Mx." is widely accepted in the United Kingdom by government organisations and businesses as an alternative for non-binary people{{Cite web |date=18 July 2022 |title=What is the Mx Title? |url=https://www.ukdeedpolloffice.org/what-is-the-mx-title/ |access-date=1 May 2024 |publisher=UK Deed Poll Office}} while the HESA allows the use of non-binary gender markers for students in higher education.{{Cite web |title=HESA parameters for SEXID |url=https://www.hesa.ac.uk/index.php?option=com_studrec&task=show_file&mnl=15051&href=a^_^SEXID.html |access-date=2 May 2016 |publisher=Higher Education Statistics Agency}} In 2015 early day motion EDM660 was registered with Parliament.{{Cite web |title=Legal Recognition For People Who Do Not Associate With A Particular Gender |url=https://www.parliament.uk/edm/2015-16/660 |access-date=2 May 2016 |publisher=UK Parliament}} EDM660 calls for citizens to be permitted access to the X marker on passports. When the text of EDM660 came to light in 2016 a formal petition was launched through the Parliamentary Petitions Service calling for EDM660 to be passed into law.{{Cite news |last=Jo McKillop |title=Consider taking EDM660 forward into law |work=Petitions |publisher=UK Government and Parliament}}{{Cite web |title=Community Post: UK Govt Asked To Recognise Non-Binary Gender |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/prolierthanthou84/uk-govt-asked-to-recognise-non-binary-gender-1u4la |access-date=6 May 2016 |website=BuzzFeed Community|date=2 May 2016 }}

In September 2015 the Ministry of Justice responded to a petition calling for self-determination of legal gender, saying that they were not aware of "any specific detriment" experienced by nonbinary people unable to have their genders legally recognised.{{Cite web |last=Duffy |first=Nick |date=12 September 2015 |title=Government claims there will be 'social consequences' if trans people can pick their legal gender |url=http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2015/09/12/government-claims-there-will-be-social-consequences-if-trans-people-can-pick-their-gender/ |access-date=27 October 2016 |website=Pink News}} In January 2016 the Trans Inquiry Report by the Women and Equalities Committee called for nonbinary people to be protected from discrimination under the Equality Act, for the X gender marker to be added to passports, and for a wholesale review into the needs of nonbinary people by the government within six months.{{Cite web |last=Lodge |first=Cassian |date=2016-01-15 |title=The Trans Inquiry Report: A Non-Binary Summary |url=http://beyondthebinary.co.uk/the-trans-inquiry-report-a-non-binary-summary/ |access-date=27 October 2016 |website=Beyond the Binary}} This did not happen. In June 2018 the British High Court ruled against a bid for passports to have an X marker.{{Cite news |date=2018-06-22 |title=High Court refuses bid for gender-neutral passports |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-44575229 |access-date=29 January 2019}}

The Scottish Government undertook a public consultation on Reforms to the Gender Recognition Act 2004 (GRA) from 9 November 2017 to 1 March 2018.{{Cite web |date=June 28, 2019 |title=Review of the Gender Recognition Act 2004 |url=https://www2.gov.scot/Topics/Justice/law/17867/gender-recognition-review |access-date=September 27, 2019 |website=Scottish Government |archive-date=November 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201119114548/https://www2.gov.scot/Topics/Justice/law/17867/gender-recognition-review |url-status=dead }} The 2004 GRA sets out the legal process by which someone can change their legally recognised gender. The consultation analysis explains that 60% of those answering the question, agreed with the proposal to introduce a self-declaratory system for legal gender recognition. Point 66 in the analysis document reads "A majority of respondents, 62% of those answering the question, thought that Scotland should take action to recognise non-binary people. Of the remaining respondents, 33% did not think Scotland should take action and 4% did not know."{{Cite book |title=Review of the Gender Recognition Act 2004 : analysis of responses to the public consultation exercise : report. |others=Scotland. Scottish Government |year=2017 |isbn=9781787813588 |location=Edinburgh |oclc=1086555558}} A draft bill for reforming the 2004 GRA is to be proposed by the end of 2019. However, in their factsheet, the Scottish Government say they will not be extending legal gender-recognition to non-binary people. Instead they are intending to set up working group to consider what more could be done to further the inclusion of non-binary people in society.{{Cite web |title=Gender Recognition Act 2004 review - gov.scot |url=https://www.gov.scot/publications/review-of-gender-recognition-act-2004/ |access-date=2019-09-27 |website=www.gov.scot}}

In March 2020, a judge ruled that the lack of nonbinary gender marker on UK-issued passports was lawful "for now", but noted that "if the international trend towards more widespread official recognition of "non-binary" identity continues, then at some future date, denial could constitute a breach of human rights."{{Cite web |last=Bowcott |first=Owen |date=10 March 2020 |title=Lack of gender-neutral passports is lawful for now, says appeal court |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/10/lack-of-gender-neutral-passports-is-lawful-for-now-says-appeal-court |access-date=14 July 2020 |website=The Guardian}}

On 14 July 2020, International Nonbinary Day,{{Cite web |last=Jake |date=25 February 2020 |title=When is International Non-Binary Day in 2020? |url=https://www.thegayuk.com/when-is-international-non-binary-day-in-2020/ |access-date=14 July 2020 |website=www.thegayuk.com}} MP Christine Jardine brought a private member's bill backed by LGBT charity Stonewall UK to the House of Commons, calling for the option of an X gender marker on UK-issued passports for nonbinary people.{{Cite web |last=Proctor |first=Kate |date=13 July 2020 |title=Calls for 'X' gender option in UK passports to be raised in Commons |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/jul/13/calls-for-x-gender-option-in-uk-passports-to-be-raised-in-commons |access-date=14 July 2020 |website=the Guardian |language=en}} Its second reading was due to take place in January 2021,{{Cite web |title=Non-gender-specific Passports Bill 2019-21 — UK Parliament |url=https://services.parliament.uk/bills/2019-21/nongenderspecificpassports.html |access-date=16 July 2020 |website=services.parliament.uk |publisher=Parliament.UK}}{{Cite web |last=Proctor |first=Kate |date=19 November 2020 |title=The Government Is Facing Fresh Calls To Introduce 'X' Gender Passports |url=https://www.politicshome.com/news/article/x-gender-passports |access-date=5 December 2020 |website=Politics Home |language=en}} however the bill failed to complete its passage through that parliamentary session and will therefore make no further progress.{{Cite web |title=Non-gender-specific Passports Bill - Parliamentary Bills - UK Parliament |url=https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/2763/news |access-date=2021-07-13 |website=bills.parliament.uk |language=en}}

On 14 September 2020 an employment tribunal ruled that a non-binary employee was protected under the gender reassignment characteristic of the Equality Act 2010, the first legal confirmation that non-binary people are protected by the Act.{{Cite web |last=White |first=Robin |title=ET finds that 'gender reassignment' (s.7 EqA) includes gender fluid and non-binary individuals |url=http://www.oldsquare.co.uk/news-and-media/news/et-finds-that-gender-reassignment-s.7-eqa-includes-gender-fluid-and-non-bin |access-date=20 September 2020 |website=www.oldsquare.co.uk |archive-date=1 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201001061442/http://www.oldsquare.co.uk/news-and-media/news/et-finds-that-gender-reassignment-s.7-eqa-includes-gender-fluid-and-non-bin |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |last=Phillips |first=Fisher |title=Gender is a Spectrum: Landmark UK Ruling Expands the Equality Act |url=https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/gender-is-a-spectrum-landmark-uk-ruling-61650/ |access-date=29 September 2020 |website=JD Supra |language=en}}

In May 2021, the UK government rejected a petition calling for the legal recognition of non-binary as a gender identity.{{Cite web |last=Vic Parsons |date=21 May 2021 |title=Non-binary legal recognition too 'complex' to introduce, UK government confirms |url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/05/21/non-binary-legal-gender-recognition-petition-cabinet-office-response/ |access-date=8 July 2021 |website=PinkNews}} Over 130,000 people signed the petition,{{Cite web |last=Jordan Robledo |date=23 May 2021 |title=UK Government has no plans to recognise non-binary as legal gender identity |url=https://www.gaytimes.co.uk/culture/uk-government-has-no-plans-to-recognise-non-binary-as-legal-gender-identity/ |access-date=8 July 2021 |website=Gay Times}} which stated allowing non-binary as a gender identity would ease gender dysphoria and protect non-binary people from transphobic hate crimes. Despite 58% of respondents agreeing that a non-binary identity should be recognised in a 2018 consultation on the GRA,{{Cite web |last=Danny Shaw |date=May 2021 |title=Over 100k people sign a petition calling for non-binary to be recognised as a legal gender |url=https://thetab.com/uk/2021/05/05/over-100k-people-sign-a-petition-calling-for-non-binary-to-be-recognised-as-a-legal-gender-204086 |access-date=8 July 2021 |website=The Tab}} the government stated in their response that there were no plans to extend the GRA, saying that to do so would have "complex practical consequences".{{Cite web |last=Nick Levine |date=22 May 2021 |title=The Government Just Rejected Calls To Make Non-Binary A Legally Recognised Gender Identity |url=https://www.refinery29.com/en-gb/non-binary-gender-identity-petition |access-date=8 July 2021 |website=Refinery29}}

In December 2021, the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom issued judgment in the case of R (Christie Elan-Cane) v Secretary of State for the Home Department ruling against recognition of non-binary gender. The court's judgment ruled that the European Convention on Human Rights did not require states to issue an "X" option for passports and that there was "no legislation in the United Kingdom which recognises a non-gendered category of individuals." The appellant, Elan-Cane, pledged to appeal the ruling to the European Court of Human Rights.{{cite web |author1=Joseph Lee |title=Gender-neutral passports: Campaigner Christie Elan-Cane loses Supreme Court case |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-59667786 |website=BBC |access-date=18 December 2021 |date=15 December 2021}}

In January 2024, judges at the High Court in London ruled that, "We have decided that whenever the Gender Recognition Act refers to ‘gender’ it refers to a binary concept – that is, to male, or to female gender. The GRP [Gender Recognition Panel] accordingly, had and has no power to issue a gender recognition certificate to the claimant which says that they are ‘non-binary’."{{cite news| first= Gabriella| last= Swerling| title= Non-binary US citizen loses attempt to get gender recognised in UK | url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/01/17/non-binary-us-citizen-loses-attempt-gender-recognised-uk/ | date= 17 January 2024| accessdate= 18 January 2024 | archive-url= https://archive.today/20240117184351/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/01/17/non-binary-us-citizen-loses-attempt-gender-recognised-uk/ |archive-date= 17 January 2024 | work= The Daily Telegraph }}

{{further|Intersex rights in the United States|Transgender rights in the United States}}

[[File:Legal recognition of non-binary gender in the United States.svg|thumb|300px|Jurisdictions that legally recognize a non-binary gender on state documents (January 2025)

{{legend|#B3DE69|Recognition via statute or policy}}

{{legend|#FCE77C|Recognition via court order only, isolated instances}}

{{legend|#D3D3D3|No legal recognition}}

]]

A number of U.S. jurisdictions allow nonbinary gender markers on state identification documents, including birth certificates and driver's licenses.{{Cite journal |last=Clarke |first=Jessica A. |date=2018-10-20|journal=Harvard Law Review |title=They, Them, and Theirs |location=Rochester, NY |ssrn=3270298}}

From 2022 through January 20, 2025, an X option was also available on passports. Federal documents no longer offer a nonbinary marker, and passport applications requesting the marker have been suspended. Previously issued passports using the gender marker "X" remain valid until their expiration date.{{cite web |title=Sex Marker in Passports |url=https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/passport-help/sex-marker.html#:~:text=All%20passports%20%2D%20including%20those%20with,Aviation%20Organization%20(ICAO)%20policy. |website=Travel.State.Gov |publisher=United States Department of State |access-date=23 February 2025 |date=February 11, 2025}}

On Intersex Awareness Day, October 26, 2015, LGBT civil rights organization Lambda Legal filed a federal discrimination lawsuit against the United States Department of State for denying navy veteran Dana Zzyym, associate director of Intersex Campaign for Equality, a passport because they are, and identify as, neither male nor female, but intersex.{{Cite web |date=October 26, 2015 |title=Lambda Legal Sues U.S. State Department on Behalf of Intersex Citizen Denied Passport |url=http://lambdalegal.org/blog/20151026_zzyym-intersex-denied-passport |access-date=January 30, 2017 |website=Lambda Legal}} On November 22, 2016, the District Court for the District of Colorado ruled in favor of Zzyym, stating that the State Department violated federal law.{{Cite news |last=Michael K. Lavers |date=November 23, 2016 |title=Judge rules in favor of intersex passport applicant |work=Washington Blade |url=http://www.washingtonblade.com/2016/11/23/judge-rules-favor-intersex-passport-applicant |access-date=January 30, 2017}} The ruling stated that the court found "no evidence that the Department followed a rational decision-making process in deciding to implement its binary-only gender passport policy," and ordered the U.S. Passport Agency to reconsider its earlier decision.{{Cite web |date=November 22, 2016 |title=Order |url=http://www.lambdalegal.org/in-court/legal-docs/zzyym_co_20161122_order |access-date=January 30, 2017 |website=Lambda Legal}} On September 19, 2018, a federal judge ruled a second time in favor of Zzyym, deciding that the U.S. State Department refusal to give a passport exceeded its authority.{{Cite web |title=Victory! State Department Cannot Rely on its Binary-Only Gender Policy to Deny Passport to Nonbinary Intersex Citizen |url=https://www.lambdalegal.org/news/co_20180919_victory-state-department-cannot-rely-on-binary-only-gender-policy |access-date=2018-11-19 |website=lambdalegal.org}}

On February 25, 2020, Rep. Ro Khanna introduced legislation in the United States House of Representatives ([https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/116/hr5962 H. R. 5962]) that would add a third gender designation to U.S. passport applications.{{Cite news |last=Burns |first=Katelyn |date=25 February 2020 |title=Nonbinary people could get a gender-neutral passport under new legislation |language=en |work=Vox |url=https://www.vox.com/2020/2/25/21152857/nonbinary-gender-neutral-passport |access-date=13 March 2020}}{{Cite news |last=Moreno |first=J. Edward |date=25 February 2020 |title=Khanna introduces bill to add a third gender option on US passports |language=en |work=TheHill |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/484491-khanna-introduces-bill-to-add-a-third-gender-option-on-us-passports |access-date=13 March 2020}} On June 30, 2021, the State Department announced that they had begun an effort to add a third gender marker on U.S. passports.{{Cite web |title=Proposing Changes to the Department's Policies on Gender on U.S. Passports and Consular Reports of Birth Abroad |url=https://www.state.gov/proposing-changes-to-the-departments-policies-on-gender-on-u-s-passports-and-consular-reports-of-birth-abroad/ |access-date=2021-06-30 |website=United States Department of State |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=30 June 2021 |title=The State Department Will Finally Allow "X" Gender Marker on Passports |url=https://www.them.us/story/biden-state-department-allows-x-gender-marker-passports |access-date=2021-07-01 |website=them. |language=en-US}} On October 27, 2021, the very first US X passport was issued to Dana Zzyym. As stated by Lambda Legal, Zzyym's legal representatives in their lawsuit, the X is a "sex/gender" marker, issued to Zzyym because they were able to demonstrate to the courts that they are not male or female in sex, but intersex, and also representing that Zzyym is non-binary in their gender identity.{{Cite web |date=October 27, 2021 |title=Lambda Legal Client Dana Zzyym Receives First 'X' U.S. Passport |url=https://www.lambdalegal.org/blog/co_20211027_dana-zzyym-receives-first-us-passport-with-x-gender-marker |access-date=November 7, 2021 |website=Lambda Legal}}

From April 11, 2022, to the end of the Biden administration, the "X" gender marker was available in passports for all U.S. citizens.{{Cite web |title=X Gender Marker Available on U.S. Passports Starting April 11 |url=https://www.state.gov/x-gender-marker-available-on-u-s-passports-starting-april-11/ |access-date=2022-04-17 |website=United States Department of State |language=en}} No medical documentation was required for the issuance of a passport with an "X" marker and the gender on the applicant's identity documents was not required to match the requested passport gender.{{Cite web |title=Passports {{!}} National Center for Transgender Equality |url=https://transequality.org/know-your-rights/passports |access-date=2024-06-11 |website=transequality.org |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Selecting your Gender Marker |url=https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/passports/need-passport/selecting-your-gender-marker.html |access-date=2024-06-11 |website=travel.state.gov}}

On January 20, 2025, after his inauguration, President Donald Trump signed an executive order instructing the federal government to recognize "only two genders, male and female," including on federal identity documents.{{Cite news |last=Luhby |first=Tami |date=20 January 2025 |title=Trump two-gender edict would upend 'X' identity on passports |language=en |work=CNN |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2025/01/20/politics/two-genders-us-passports-federal-government-trump/index.html |access-date=20 January 2025}}{{cite news |last1=Watson |first1=Kathryn |last2=Linton |first2=Caroline |title=Trump executive order says federal government only recognizes "two sexes" |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-executive-order-says-federal-government-only-recognizes-two-sexes/ |access-date=22 January 2025 |work=CBS News |date=January 21, 2025}} On January 23, 2025, secretary of state Marco Rubio instructed staff to suspend all applications for passports that requested an "X" sex marker or a change to the existing sex marker.{{cite news |last1=Gedeon |first1=Joseph |title=Rubio instructs staff to freeze passport applications with 'X' sex markers |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/23/trump-rubio-x-gender-passport |access-date=January 23, 2025 |work=The Guardian |date=January 23, 2025}}

{{multiple image

| caption1 = In late 2016, Elisa Rae Shupe (Oregon) became the first person to receive legal recognition of a non-binary gender in the United States after a state court ruling.

| caption2 = Obverse of a New Mexico driver identification card showing the 'X' gender designator

| direction = horizontal

| image1 = Elisa Rae Shupe flying a trans flag in 2016.jpg

| image2 = New Mexico standard horizontal driver identification card obverse - non-PubL109-13 and with neutral gender designator and number and address redaction.png

| width1 = 150

| width2 = 300

}}

Since 19 October 2018, a new law in Uruguay allows people to change their gender/sex entry on a self-determined basis without requiring any medical documents. The law also provides a basis for social protection, anti-discrimination efforts, quotas and reparations.{{Cite web |title=Ley Integral Para Personas Trans |url=https://medios.presidencia.gub.uy/legal/2018/leyes/10/mides_360.pdf |access-date=5 March 2019 |publisher=Uruguay Ministry for Social Development}}{{Cite news |last=Garat |first=Guillermo |date=19 October 2018 |title=Uruguay aprueba una ley de vanguardia para el bienestar de las personas trans |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/es/2018/10/19/espanol/uruguay-ley-trans.html |access-date=5 March 2022}}

Non-binary gender is not legally recognized in Japan. Official documents, such as birth certificates and identification cards, require individuals to have binary entries.

A foreign resident holding a foreign passport with "X" in the gender field will have this reflected on their residence card. In this case, the gender field on the residence card will be left blank, with "Gender X" indicated on the back of the card.{{cite web |title=（参考表）外国人人口の推移（公簿人口） |url=https://www.city.nagoya.jp/somu/cmsfiles/contents/0000159/159339/CA0420D.xlsx |website=city.nagoya.jp |access-date=18 December 2024 |language=ja}}

• Gender self-identification
• Legal recognition of intersex people
• Non-binary discrimination
• Right to personal identity
• Transgender rights

{{reflist}}

{{Transgender}}

{{Intersex}}

Category:Non-binary gender

Category:Transgender law

fr:Non-binaire#Mention d'un genre neutre à l'état civil