Canada: gender neutral may appear on official documents

AFP

Thursday, 24 August 2017 20:51

UPDATE
Thursday, 24 August 2017 20:51

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The “X” will be included on identity documents of persons not identifying neither the female gender nor the male sex, on Thursday announced the canadian government.

In a first time, a mention can be added on the official documents of the “people who do not identify as female (F) or men (M)” to indicate a wish that their sex is “designated as X, for non-specified”.

This announcement is intended to facilitate the obtaining of passports, travel documents or immigration “which would better correspond to their gender identity,” said the federal government in a press release.

These interim measures, which will enter into force on the 31 August, will be enforced until the government “can print documents with a designation “X”.

“By introducing a designation of sex X in the documents issued by the government, we are taking an important measure to promote equality for all Canadians, regardless of their identity or their gender expression,” said the minister of Immigration, refugee and citizenship Ahmed Hussen.

In June, Canada has approved a bill adding “gender identity and gender expression” to the sides of the race, religion, age, gender, or sexual orientation among the prohibited grounds of discrimination under the canadian Charter of rights.