Intersex people in Germany can now legally identify themselves as a third gender, under a new law adopted in December.<\/p>\n
People who do not fit the biological definition of male or female can now choose the category “diverse” on official documents.<\/p>\n
Those choosing the option will need a doctor’s certificate to register.<\/p>\n
Intersex people are born with both male and female sex characteristics, which can appear at birth or later in life.<\/p>\n
Other countries have approved laws in recent years to help recognise intersex people.<\/p>\n
Austria’s constitutional court made a similar ruling to Germany’s in June, while Australia, New Zealand, Malta, India and Canada have all passed measures to redress issues facing intersex citizens.<\/p>\n
The UN says\u00a0up to 1.7% of the world’s population are born with intersex traits<\/a>– about the same number of people with red hair.<\/p>\n This is separate from a person’s gender identity or sexual orientation.<\/p>\n But many face stigma, legal discrimination or even forced surgery because of these characteristics.<\/p>\n Germany previously allowed intersex people to opt out of choosing either male or female as a gender in 2013.<\/p>\n But in 2017\u00a0the country’s top court ruled it was discrimination to deny people a gender<\/a>, after a person registered as female had a chromosome test confirming they were neither sex.<\/p>\n Germany’s parliament approved the law change last month, to come into effect on 1 January.<\/p>\n BBC Europe regional editor Danny Aeberhard says some people believe it is a step too far, while gender activists think the need for a doctor’s certificate will make proof harder for intersex people without physical characteristics.<\/p>\n Source: bbc.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"