The Home Office has begun a consultation on whether to introduce passports in which the holder does not need to state their gender as male or female. The new plans would introduce an ‘X’ for everybody under the ‘sex’ category on their passports.
Under current regulations, each passport holder must identify as male or female. Those who undergo sex-change operations are allowed to change their identity once the process is complete and have been given a gender recognition certificate.
Whilst undergoing a sex-change, a person can identify as their intended gender but this must be supported by a certificate from a doctor stating that is the gender they normally live as.
People classed as intersex, where they are born with both male and female reproductive organs, have to choose which gender to be identified as.
The proposals follow statements made by Lynne Featherstone MP, the equalities minister, that the Government would do more for transgender people.
She said:
“We are committed to tackling prejudice and discrimination against transgender people at home and around the world. We need concerted government action to tear down barriers and help to build a fairer society for transgender people.”
On Saturday she also announced the Coalition’s intention to introduce homosexual ‘marriage’ by 2015.
It is reported that there are some concerns amongst Home Office officials that the proposed changes will present a security risk, especially for the UK Border Agency which needs as much information as possible.
Last night the Home Office stated: “We are exploring with international partners and relevant stakeholders the security implications of gender not being displayed in the passport.”
If it is decided that UK passports should become ‘gender neutral’, the decision could be implemented extremely quickly because passports come under the royal prerogative, which means that a straightforward ministerial order would be all that is required.
A spokesman for the Identity and Passport Service said: “IPS is considering the gender options available to customers in the British passport.
“This is at the early discussion stage and no decisions have been taken. Any changes to the UK passport would need to satisfy our rigorous security requirements.”
Andrea Williams responded to the news, saying:
“This is another case of drastic changes being made on behalf of a minority which end up affecting the majority.
“There is no such thing as ‘gender neutral.’ God created us male and female.
“These proposals are part of a wider attack on gender in our society under the guise of ‘fairness,’ and that attack is now being taken up and implemented by those who are supposed to be safeguarding society.”
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