Rights of the Genderless

[JesusA (imported)]

Sent to me this afternoon by a friend on the other side of the Dateline:

States to consider rights of genderless people

Sean Nicholls

Sydney Morning Herald (Australia)

December 9, 2010

THE need for a national approach to legal recognition of ''genderless'' people - who identify as neither male nor female - will be raised by the NSW Attorney-General, John Hatzistergos, at a meeting of his state and territory counterparts in Canberra tomorrow.

The issue was highlighted in the Herald in March through the story of Norrie, a genderless Sydneysider who has battled the state bureaucracy for the right to be recorded as ''sex not specified'' on official documents.

Norrie, who was born in Scotland, became the first person in NSW to be neither man nor woman in the eyes of the state government after he was issued with a Recognised Details Certificate containing the notation.

It was issued after two doctors agreed that Norrie, who was born male but had gender reassignment surgery and now prefers not to identify as either sex, was physically and psychologically androgynous.

But the certificate - which may be provided by the Register of Births, Deaths and Marriages to immigrants who have changed their sex and want it recorded - was later ruled invalid.

''The case of Norrie earlier this year highlighted that some people wish to identify as having an unspecified sex," Mr Hatzistergos said.

He noted that a report last year by the Australian Human Rights Commission recommended that an adult should be allowed to choose to have an unspecified sex recorded on official documents and records.

''This is a very complex area of social policy with very significant legal and practical implications on a national scale,'' he said.

A ''sex not specified'' classification could potentially raise difficulties for governments in areas such as marriage, which is defined in legislation as being between a man and a woman.

Other areas for discussion may include placement in aged care, hospital rooms, emergency refuges and prison, as well as the issue of security protocols such as body searches.

Norrie, who welcomed the move to raise the issue at the meeting, has lodged an appeal against the decision of the registry with the Administrative Decisions Tribunal and expects a decision within months.

http://www.smh.com.au/national/states-t ... 18pxg.html

.

[tugon (imported)]

As a eunuch who does not take any replacement hormones I would like that recognition. Physically peoples' impression of me are as a male but I have not felt male in a very long time. Since the designation eunuch would tell people more information than I might want them to have I would prefer genderless. On legal documents they could guess what makes me genderless but eunuch would remove all doubt.

[chemcast scot (imported)]

It could have a big issue on human rights if it dose go through,but as we do not have a say in our names or sex at birth,should we not have the right to decide what name or gender we want to be.

As for the question about hospitals or prison,is this not an issue that comes up with people who are getting srs,after all untill they get the final surgery,they are not male or female,so if they were to require to go in to hospital. Would they be taken into a female ward or male ward if mtf,or if they broke the law would it be a male prison or female prison.

As someone who is chemicaly castrated,i dont think of my self as male or female,but as a chemicaly castrated eunuch,and as sutch i would be a lot more happy to have on my documents genderless,as i dont think os myself as any gender.

[Mac (imported)]

It could have a big issue on human rights if it dose go through,but as we do not have a say in our names or sex at birth,should we not have the right to decide what name or gender we want to be.

As for the question about hospitals or prison,is this not an issue that comes up with people who are getting srs,after all untill they get the final surgery,they are not male or female,so if they were to require to go in to hospital. Would they be taken into a female ward or male ward if mtf,or if they broke the law would it be a male prison or female prison.

As someone who is chemicaly castrated,i dont think of my self as male or female,but as a chemicaly castrated eunuch,and as sutch i would be a lot more happy to have on my documents genderless,as i dont think os myself as any gender.

However, society segregates us in many areas based on what is between our legs. We must have separate public restrooms, fitting rooms, locker rooms, showers, sports teams, clothing, and many other areas of separation. I realize that some women have been able to overcome these barriers in all areas but the same has not been true for men.

For that to happen we must eliminate all instances of gender separation from our lives.

Using your example: would a person with a vagina be safe in a male prison; and a person with a non-functional penis be welcome in a woman's prison?

What about a male person with no genitals or a woman with no vagina, uterus, or feminine breasts; where would they be placed?

[chemcast scot (imported)]

I remember a few years ago going through france on a coach,and stopping at a motorway service station,the toilets were not seperate,both men and women used the same ones.

Maybe we could learn a thing or two when it comes to both sexes being mixed,and that can only be a help to the genderless.