Do you think the government should acknowledge a 3rd gender?

[Shawn Sunshine]

Do you feel that a person should be able to list something other than male or female on a birth certificate and drivers license and social security card? Is there actually any hope that someday we all wont be put in boxes and can just specify something else like I (for Intersex) or QQ for GenderFluid or even something else besides the way people are put into boxes now?

[spacial]

I think governments and such should stop asking us what's between our legs.

Unless they want it for some reason, my gender or sex is none of their business.

[Ms. OBrien CVT]

Personally I don't think it is wise.  I don't trust the government to not use such information for insidious purposes.

I am female and let it stay that way.

[Edge]

I don't see why we need to have gender on ID anyway, but I'm not too knowledgeable about why it's on there in the first place, so...

[Shawn Sunshine]

Oh I love "once upon a time" on abc btw

[tekla]

The alternative to the whole 'gender' deal (with eyes, hair, weight, height help the LEO figure out if that's you, is - Biometric.  Would you really like that better?  DNA? Fingerprints?   DNA Fingerprints...  I mean it's coming, not much we can do about it.  So that pesky gender might go away - on the other hand, lots of people are pretty attached to it.  And such things - like a DL - have uses beyond the government.

[Isabelle]

Not if its used as a method of denying women with transsexual history the same rights as any other. I can't see a problem if people want to claim a non-gendered identity though. I'm my country we can have X on our passports.

[BlueSloth]

Ms. OBrien and Isabelle:  I'm pretty sure "something other than male or female" would be for people who are something other than male or female.

Anyway, I think if the government insists on documenting gender, they should at least try to get it right.  As it is, they're doing a very good job of convincing me that "official" and "real" are not the same thing, and I doubt that's what they want.  An F or an M on paperwork doesn't mean much now, because you can't tell if it's really true or if it's only there because the truth isn't an option.

[Shawn Sunshine]

well i personally think its wrong to be assigned a sex at birth, instead i think the child should be telling you what they are and how they feel and you should then assign a gender, regardless of sex characteristics, also you have to remember some intersex people identify as both genders or a separate gender, i just think that a lot of heartache could be spared if doctors were able to just let humans tell there own story.

[Holly P]

I don't think we need a 3rd one, I think we ALL we need to stop caring.  Why do I need to have a label?  I should be able to present as I please, not according to what's on my drivers license.  I have never been asked to demonstrate proof at any time - why do I need an M or F?  Just an opinion... Holly

[Arch]

I would rather see them get rid of the mortgage tax writeoff and start covering trans surgeries.

But, no, I don't think it's a good idea to put down a third gender; I would rather see both existing gender markers just go away (like that's going to happen anytime soon). I think that the third gender category would be abused and misunderstood. But I'm not one of the folks who would be using such a category for self-classification.

[mintra]

My mtf friend in Chicago went to a hospital and on her Anesthesia Evaluation Information states her sex as 'Transgender' I think some changes have begun. Although I am legally female and prefer all the paper to be female, I don't think it is a bad thing.

[Schuyler]

But, no, I don't think it's a good idea to put down a third gender; I would rather see both existing gender markers just go away (like that's going to happen anytime soon). I think that the third gender category would be abused and misunderstood. But I'm not one of the folks who would be using such a category for self-classification.

I think this would be the best solution; having the gender markers disappear altogether, but (like Arch wrote) it most likely won't be seen in this life-time or the next. I also agree that if we did have a 3rd gender category, it would add more confusion than clarification. Not that it's not a good thought, but it wouldn't be used correctly in context and, I think, would be a step back than forward.

[Shawn Sunshine]

You might be able to get rid of gender markers on official documents , but you would still be referring to people as him or her, unless that person says its ok to call them both.

[michelle]

I think there should be the choice of other with a flip down box with several other choices including other.   Then a box to write your sexual identity in.    Much as they could do with ethnic identity.

To eliminate discrimination on account of sexual identity they should just leave it off legal documents and government documents including your driver's licence.   Your picture on your driver's licence could have more of a body shot which would convey the necessary information for identification.

[Schuyler]

The funny thing, it doesn't bother me which pronouns someone uses for me. He, she - I don't care. But someone else might. There will never be a solution that works for everybody.

[Carbon]

I don't see why we need to have gender on ID anyway, but I'm not too knowledgeable about why it's on there in the first place, so...

To fight terrorism, obvs.

Anyway you're right and it's not really useful or necessary, but if we HAVE to have one I definitely think it should at least be "Male, Female, None/Other." Nonbinary people exist and are real.

[Shawn Sunshine]

I wonder if the whole census and record keeping track of how many women and men there are has to do more with taxes, reproduction, or just simple curiosity?

[FTMDiaries]

Can you imagine the reaction in the press if this were even proposed? We'd have the usual hysterical wails of "OMGZ paedo gay perverts want to hide their gender so they can invade the ladies' toilets and molest women!!!1!!!"

Personally, I don't think my gender or sex is anyone's business. If it needs to be on a medical form for a medical reason (i.e. to supply sex-specific treatments such as smears or prostate exams), then so be it. But nobody else has a good reason to know.

[Aleah]

Some countries have made progress towards recognizing a third gender, such as Pakistan. I've heard similar things for other countries. So it is happening and I think anything that offers more choice is a good thing.

I somewhat agree with the sentiment that the government should just mind it's own business but there are legal reasons for it that can not be ignored. Also I believe recognition is half the fight for social acceptance, as long as there is sociopolitical stigma around it then it will reinforce public sentiment.