X marks the spot on passports for transgendered Australians

[Keroppi]

X marks the spot on passports for transgendered Australians

Australians applying for new passports now have an extra choice in the gender field, after authorities allowed transgendered people to nominate their official gender as "indeterminate".

By Bonnie Malkin, Sydney, 8:24AM BST 15 Sep 2011

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/australia/8764330/X-marks-the-spot-on-passports-for-transgendered-Australians.html

Under new guidelines brought in by the department of foreign affairs, Australians can now mark M, F or X on their passports.

Previously, the government had required a person whose gender was different from that of their birth to have reassignment surgery before they could change their passport to their preferred sex, and there was no "indeterminate" option.

Now they will simply need a letter from their doctor to be allowed to mark X on the document.

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Getting a passport made easier for sex and gender diverse people

Joint media release - The Hon Kevin Rudd MP, Minister for Foreign Affairs, The Hon Robert McClelland MP, Attorney-General

http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2011/kr_mr_110914b.html

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My apologies for the delay *****, I wanted to ensure I had the information absolutely correct.

If you quote this information on your website, could you please attribute it to a spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

"This new policy makes it easier for members of the sex and gender diverse community to obtain a passport in their preferred gender. Sex reassignment surgery is no longer a prerequisite to the issue of a passport in a new gender.

The passport will show the person as either female (f) male (m) or intersex, indeterminate, unspecified (x) to reflect their preferred gender identity.

Applicants will have to provide a statement from a medical practitioner registered with the Medical Board of Australia, or equivalent overseas authority, certifying that they have undergone, or are receiving, appropriate clinical treatment for gender transition; that they are intersex and live in a particular gender; or are of indeterminate sex.

The policy also applies to intersex applicants who do not accept the sex assigned to them at birth and who live in a different gender, as well as those who wish to have 'x' appear in their passport to identify their sex as indeterminate.

Applicants must meet all other normal passport requirements, such as providing proof of identity documents to support their identity in the wider community.

The policy removes unnecessary obstacles to recording a person's preferred gender in their passport. It has been developed in close consultation with the sex and gender diverse community.

This initiative is in line with the Australian Government's commitment to remove discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation or sexual identity. "

This information will soon be available on the passports website. They are just in the process of updating the information.

Kind regards,
Dana
Dana Robertson
Media Liaison Officer
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
media@dfat.gov.au

[justmeinoz]

Well that will make it easier if I decide to go to Thailand for SRS next year. Nice!

Karen.

[Lily]

I would want F, but I'd rather have X than M.

[JenJen2011]

For those who like classifying themselves as a "third gender", this is great news for you.

[jamiejo]

Firstly, I would prefer a "H" for human and totally be done with this gender marker BS!

I travel with USA Passport because it has a "F", just like my drivers license, just like my airline travel profiles, and I leave my Australian Passport at home because it has a "M", unless I'm traveling back to Australia or it's needed for a good party trick!

So if Australia changes to intersex to an "X", then the airlines will be required to updated their records too.  Your ID sex and travel profile are suppose to match I believe.

Seriously, this gender markers is just totally BS!!!

Jamie

[missF]

Seriously, this gender markers is just totally BS!!!

Jamie

Agreed 100%, but since we're not living in Dreamland yet, if I was an aussie national I would go with X rather than being called "Mr" every time show my passport somewhere. However, being italian/brazilian I'm far way back, and need a lawyer to change my italian passport to F and might never be able to change in Brazil *sigh*

I wonder what happens if a "X" person goes to a very conservative country regarding gender, like UAE or Saudi Arabia?


Regarding the flight companies, if I remember you dont choose gender for the ticket, but "Miss, Ms. Mr" etc, right? Or no??

Flavia

[jamiejo]

Regarding the flight companies, if I remember you dont choose gender for the ticket, but "Miss, Ms. Mr" etc, right? Or no??

United Airlines and Delta required the gender "M" or "F" for purchasing a ticket!!!

I assume most airlines now require the same.

Jamie

[missF]

United Airlines and Delta required the gender "M" or "F" for purchasing a ticket!!!

I assume most airlines now require the same.

Jamie

Darn, true, just made a test pretending to buy a ticket through Finnair. But I guess for the flight companies the most important is the name rather the gender marker?

Flavia

[Keroppi]

So if Australia changes to intersex to an "X", then the airlines will be required to updated their records too.  Your ID sex and travel profile are suppose to match I believe.

I read it as an intersex or transgender person who do not want either an M or F assigned can choose X for indeterminate.

The policy also applies to intersex applicants who do not accept the sex assigned to them at birth and who live in a different gender, as well as those who wish to have 'x' appear in their passport to identify their sex as indeterminate.

It says you will now be able to apply for a new passport with whatever gender marker you wish with an appropriate doctor's letter.

United Airlines and Delta required the gender "M" or "F" for purchasing a ticket!!!

I assume most airlines now require the same.

"X" for the gender marker for indeterminate or unspecified is part of the international passport standard and has always exist, and not something the Australian government invented on its own. It's merely the case that most passport issuing countries in the world don't utilise it. I assume an airline will be able to deal with that if you were buying a ticket in person and maybe over the phone. Website is a different matter as it'll depend on the coding.

[Sarah B]

Hi Jamie

I normally do not get involved with these types of threads, however where you said:

Firstly, I would prefer a "H" for human and totally be done with this gender marker BS!

I would agree with you, with all my heart, soul, body and mind.  Having an 'X' an 'I' or even a 'A' on your passport will be just like having a F...ing brand on your head that says "I am a TS or even TG".  If you are an Australian you can have a M or F gender marker on your passport if you are going over sea seas with the intention of having surgery.

If the gender fields are going to allow a greater variation, then it becomes pointless in having a gender field.  Yes as Valerie says "this can be scary dangerous".

Warm regards
Sarah B
PS I would never pick a 3rd Category in a million years.  Guess which one I would pick (hint it is not M)?

[FairyGirl]

This is no doubt in reaction to the person in Australia who declared themselves a third gender or "no" gender last year.  As long as 3rd gender remains a choice and isn't forced onto people-- the Aussies have a way of trying to accommodate everyone (almost).

The BBC website story says this:

New Australian passports allow third gender option
The reform aims to curb gender discrimination

Australians have been given a third choice when describing their gender on passport applications, under new guidelines aimed at removing discrimination.

Transgender people and those of ambiguous sex will be able to list their gender as indeterminate, which will be shown on passports as an X.

People whose gender was different from that of their birth were previously required to have reassignment surgery before they could change their passport to their preferred sex.

An Australian senator, Louise Pratt - whose partner was born female and is now identified as a man - said the reform was a huge step forward.

"There have been very many cases of people being detained at airports by immigration in foreign countries simply because their passports don't reflect what they look like," she told Australian radio.

"It's very distressing, highly inconvenient and frankly sometimes dangerous."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-14926598

[Stephe]

If the gender fields are going to allow a greater variation, then it becomes pointless in having a gender field. 

It is pointless. Right now I can't fathom a reason to have gender markers on identification unless they use it as a way to -identify- people. For them to be looking for a 6' 160lb male wouldn't help anyone find or identify me. It just causes confusion. THAT IS pointless.

As far as the whole jail argument that always surfaces: I think that is something they can sort/figure out after you have been arrested. You have given up some of your rights already at that point and for them to segregate people on a basis other than the marker on their ID is up to them at that point. Some jails already place trans-women in with females in opposition to the gender marker.

[Ann Onymous]

Darn, true, just made a test pretending to buy a ticket through Finnair. But I guess for the flight companies the most important is the name rather the gender marker?

It isn't an airline thing but rather a security thing, and yes, security is looking at BOTH.  More nonsense brought to you by Theatre de Security Absurd...and yes, unfortunately, what the TSA wants, even when ineffective, tends to invade the province of other jurisdictions.

Bjut hey, if some are content with being 'othered', then so be it...

[missF]

Everyone is focused on the airport, airline experience when the greater problem when traveling is presenting your identification credentials to police and the military in the visiting country during traffic stops, checkpoints, etc. You cant guarantee that you will be stopped by an accepting authority figure that can happen at any given moment. In many cases you will be in an isolated situation and not in a public venue like an airport.

Please be careful when choosing this option.

Indeed. I know some countries where the police is the one to be feared among tourists, since they might stop you randomly asking your visa and will try in all possible ways to show you have some legal problem with it even if everything is 100% correct (self experience). Having something else rather than M or F might just give them some more ideas to get money from you.

Regarding airports, I 've never traveled to US, so can't say musch about the TSA and all the paranoia associated (at least from what I've heard about...), however here in Europe, specially inside the Schengen countries you barely need to show your passport (actually you need only for the flight company when checking-in) and they will want only to sure name in the ticket matches with name in the passport.