Germany to allow 'third gender'

Parents of German babies with characteristics of both sexes can now leave the gender blank on birth certificates.

14:34 01 November 2013

According to official records, there are about 2,000 intersex or those people who have characteristics of both sexes. When parents have these babies, they are typically pressured to make quick decision on sex assignment surgery for new-borns. To resolve this problem, Germany has announced that it will allow “indeterminate sex.”

Parents will now be allowed to leave the gender blank on birth certificates. This removes the pressure for parents in making quick decision just to register their child with the authorities.

Germany is the first country in Europe to allow such a move.

The interior of ministry added that German passports will also list x for “intersex.”

However, it is unclear as to how this change will impact the laws on marriage and partnership in the country. Currently, the law define marriage as a union between a man and a woman while civil partnerships are reserved for same-sex couples.