The German parliament approved a law allowing a third option for the gender field in birth certificates on 14 December. Now people, who were born intersex, can be registered as "miscellaneous".
People who were born with distinctive male or female features will still be registered as usual. They will be able to change it later, although it will require medical examination proving the need for a gender change in documents. Lawmaker from Christian Democratic Union Marc Henrichmann, cited by the DPA commented on the matter by saying that the "official civil register must be based on evidence rather than self-assessments".
The new law was adopted in light of the decision by the Federal Constitutional Court, which labelled the existing registration rules as discriminatory against intersex people. Previously they were left with a blank space in the gender field of the birth certificate. This practice was adopted following a suit by an intersex adult who argued that the state shouldn't force intersex people to choose between being male or female.
A person is considered to be intersex if they possess characteristics of both male and female bodies, in terms of genitals, gonads, hormones, or chromosomes, or a combination of these characteristics not typical for either of the basic genders.
READ MORE: 'Alternative Sexual Identity': Austria Recognizes 'Third Gender'
Many netizens viewed the news from Germany quite negatively, stating that only two sexes should exist.
The insanity continues. Why don't they accept the truth? There are ONLY TWO sexes, male and female. A person who is buried today and dug up in say 100 years will be classified male or female by their remains. Fact! There is no third sex.
— Tara Philips (@tara_philips) December 14, 2018
Choose one:
— Jim (@TypeError_) December 14, 2018
M_ F_ WTF?_
Others argued that intersex people can't be really assigned to any gender, but noted that medical professionals should determine whether a person is intersex or not.
I mean, intersex exists. If you‘re born with mixed genitals you can‘t really be classified under either male nor female but that should be confirmed by medical professionals, not opinions.
— absoluteunit (@absoluteunit8) December 14, 2018
Not only those opposing the introduction of new types of genders were left dissatisfied with the new law. Transgender netizens demanded that they should also be given a special gender option, just like the intersex people.
it doesn’t even make sense that this new third gender option in Germany isn’t available for trans people?? it’s hard, but we can legally change our gender. if a third option is possible, why wouldn’t you make it available for us??? I hate this. fucking Bundestag
— Trickster Sascha (@confusedophan) December 13, 2018
