Canada introduced a third gender option on passports and other government documents, allowing citizens to choose "X" instead of male or female.
"All Canadians should feel safe to be themselves, live according to their gender identity and express their gender as they choose," Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, said in a statement. "By introducing an 'X' gender designation in our government-issued documents, we are taking an important step towards advancing equality for all Canadians regardless of gender identity or expression."
The option of listing an unspecified gender will begin with an interim measure Aug. 31 until the IRCC is able to print documents including the "X" designation, the statement said.
The move is the latest in Canada to embrace nontraditional gender identification, which have included the appointment in November of a special adviser to coordinate government efforts to promote equality for LGBT individuals and a law passed in June to include nondiscrimination protections for gender expression.
Filling in the gender category is mandatory for travel documents, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported.
"I'm thrilled, it's a step forward for our society. It's progress," Canadian Laura Budd said, according to the CBC.
Others say the measure doesn't go far enough.
"It's a step in the right direction but it's still not acceptable," Canadian Fran Forsberg said, according to the CBC. "Putting an X there singles people out as different. There's no reason to have gender or sexual identity on identification, none whatsoever."
Eight other countries — Australia, Bangladesh, Germany, India, Malta, Nepal, New Zealand, and Pakistan — include third options for gender identification on government documents.
Lambda Legal, a nonprofit that promotes LGBT rights, is suing the United States on a behalf of an intersex client seeking a gender identification option on passports that is neither male nor female.
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