Early Day Motion signals move to 'non-gender specific X passports'

Published: May 20th, 2016

|
- Social

One hundred MPs have signed a motion calling on the government to give "legal recognition" to "people who do not associate with a particular gender".

Early Day Motion 660, tabled by Liberal Democrat MP Norman Lamb, claims that people are "compromised and diminished" as a result of "inappropriate" gender references on their personal identity information.

The motion urges the government and HM Passport Office to give those who are 'non-gendered' and 'bi-gendered' a legitimate identity by following Australia and New Zealand in offering non-gender specific X passports.

'Discriminatory and archaic'

Commenting on the motion, Norman Lamb MP labelled those who believe in a God-given identity of one of two binary genders as "discriminatory and archaic", he said:

"Reaching this milestone shows the strength of support for the rights of non-gendered people. This is a simple fight for equality. There is no reason why gender should be specified on a passport, and to force people to choose between two binaries is discriminatory and archaic.

"Few parliamentary motions receive the backing of 100 MPs. This achievement is testament to the importance of this issue, and to the tireless and inspiring work of campaigners like Christie Elan-Cane.

"I will continue to throw my full weight behind this campaign, and look forward to giving a voice to people who do not associate with a particular gender in the new parliamentary session."

Denial of reality

The news follows a report on ‘Transgender Equality’, published in January by the Women and Equalities Committee, which said: “The UK must follow Australia’s lead in introducing an option to record gender as “X” on a passport. If Australia is able to implement such a policy there is no reason why the UK cannot do the same. In the longer term, consideration should be given to the removal of gender from passports.”

In a move that Christian Concern’s Chief Executive Andrea Williams described as “a denial of reality and very concerning”, the report also suggested children as young as 16 should be allowed to legally ‘change’ their gender.

Shortly after the publication of the report, a government survey developed by the Office of the Children's Commissioner for England asked pupils between the ages of 13 and 18, how they 'would define their gender'.

Christian Concern's Campaigns Director Andrew Marsh spoke about the survey on Talk2Me Radio, he said that the questionnaire was part of a "fast-moving agenda... to rip up the landscape and the markers in the areas of gender and sex – gender identity – and to redraw the map completely".

Gender identity resources

As issues of gender and identity become increasingly prominent in the public square, and specifically in areas of education, it is increasingly important to understand the terminology being used. To help provide some clarification and context, Joe Carter, an Editor for The Gospel Coalition has compiled a glossary of terms to help us “better understand the linguistic radicalness of the gender identity revolution.”

Also writing for The Gospel Coalition, pastor and father Mark Spansel has shared how he has spoken to his children on the issue of gender identity.

He says: "The gospel-less culture around us champions being who you are, but offers only tips and tools that lead you away from being who God created you to be. So absolutely, I want my kids to be themselves. I want them to look different from my wife and me. I want them to have their own adventures, to walk their own paths. But I also want them to be equipped to find their worth in Jesus, so they can help others navigate the tricky roads ahead."

Archive site notice

Early Day Motion signals move to 'non-gender specific X passports'

'Discriminatory and archaic'

Denial of reality

Gender identity resources