Germany To Allow Parents To Choose No Gender For Babies On Birth Certificates

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On Friday, Nov. 1, Germany will become the first country in the world to allow parents to leave the gender box blank on their child's birth certificate.

As reported in August ^[1] , the move is an effort to create legal recognition for intersex individuals, or children born without a clearly determinable anatomical sex of male or female.

With babies reportedly born without clearly determinable genitalia at a rate of 1 in every 1,500 -- and many intersex individuals not exhibiting characteristics ^[2] until later in life -- the legislation seeks "to take the pressure off parents to commit themselves to a gender immediately after birth.^[3] "

"This will be the first time that the law acknowledges that there are human beings who are neither male nor female, or are both," stated University of Bremen law professor Konstanze Plett ^[4] . "People who do not fit into the traditional legal categories... We will have fellow human beings with no sex registered. They can't be forced into either one of the traditional sexes in these other contexts."

Earlier this year, the United Nations condemned "normalization" surgery, citing research that surgeries aiming to create an either anatomically male or female body ^[5] for intersex infants often leads to more harm than help.

The German law reportedly states that if a child "cannot be assigned to the female nor the male gender ^[6] ," their status "shall be entered without such information in the register of births."

"This is an interesting move but it doesn't go far enough ^[7] ," Silvan Agius, policy director at Equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex people in Europe (ILGA), told Reuters.

"Unnecessary surgeries will likely continue in Germany with devastating consequences... we live in a world where having a baby classified as 'other' is still considered undesirable."

Germany's move follows in the footsteps of Australia, which became the first country in the world ^[8] to began allowing a third gender option, or "X," on passports in late 2011.

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New York

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Washington, D.C.

From Ashley Bartolome: "I took these photos at the Pride Parade in Washington, DC on June 9, 2012."

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Sao Paulo, Brazil

From Welton Trindade, journalist and a gay activist: "I took part of Sao Paulo LGBT Parade. The march was realized on Sunday, June 10. That was the 16th edition of the event. Well, I wanted to show my body but a parade, in my opinion, is not just fun!

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Zurich, Switzerland

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Berlin, Germany

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Bologna, Italy

From Marilena: "I was at this year's national italian Gay Pride in Bologna! It was my first pride and it was amazing! I felt surrounded by so much love and most of all I felt safe and proud of who I am! Baci!"

Brussels, Belgium

From Evert Hermans & Birger De Rese: "We've been married for 4 years now. We're proud to have in Belgium legalized same sex marriage!"

Seoul, South Korea

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West Hollywood, California

From married couple Andi & Carissa: "Our pup Simon enjoyed his first Pride Parade in West Hollywood on June 10!"

Shanghai, China

From Abby Lavin, a volunteer with shanghaiPRIDE, who shares this image of a "Pink Picnic" (photo taken by Linda Li)

Tel Aviv, Israel

From The Israel Project

Gran Canaria, Spain

From Chris Wadsworth: "This is (left to right) myself, Gareth and Daniel at Maspalomas GayPride 2012 in Gran Canaria, Spain. The whole island (and thousands from all over Europe) turn up for the week long event every May to celebrate and meet LGBT people from all over the world!"

Meridas, Mexico

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Baton Rouge, Louisana

From Unitarian Church of Baton Rouge: "We made history in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on Saturday, June 23, with the first ever statewide Equality March. Here's a picture of both the youngest and the oldest marchers!"

Philadelphia

From Daniel Douglass, founder/director of Flaggots: "Here's a photo of FLAGGOTS performing to Whitney Houston's 'I Wanna Dance with Somebody' at Philly Pride, June 10. FLAGGOTS are a group of friends from the color guard and drum corps community that come together to celebrate Pride in a most fabulous way. Founded in 1991, they have performed in at least one pride event a year for 23 consecutive years.'

Chicago

From Karen Belgrad: "At my friend's apartment, overlooking the parade route, he casually tosses out beads...and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel catches them with ease! OK, and a little lunging!)"

Los Angeles

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Sergeant Don Mueller and LAX Airport Police Officer David Ayala celebrate pride as they prepare to march with over 60 other openly gay officers in the 2012 West Hollywood CSW Pride Parade.

Waikiki, Hawaii

From Bob Brennan: "Also there was a party at Allah Moana Beach Park. Everybody was gay that day."

Columbus, Ohio

From Keli Stooksberry: The picture on the right is my friend Courtney talking to protesters. The picture on the left is of my partner DeAnna and I kissing in front of the protesters. This was my second pride and the first interaction with protesters. I was not surprised but still overwhelmed by their presence in such a wonderful and uplifting celebration. My friend Courtney had one of them speechless by the end of their conversation not by throwing obscenities his way but rather using her knowledge of scripture. Again, I was not surprised that the man she spoke with had no more knowledge of the bible than the words written on his sign but it was priceless to see him have nothing left to say because Courtney was right!

Baton Rouge, Louisana

From John Desselle: "It only took what, 42 years, for Baton Rouge to have a state wide Equality March. Headed up by Capital City Alliance: www.ccabatonrouge.org, we had representatives from all over the state. About 300 people showed up for the march. Most went on to our Baton Rouge Pride Festival which was at LSU Student Union this year."

Queens, New York

From Michael Cruz: "I am the Secretary of the Queens Pride Lions Club. We are the first LGBT Lions Club in NYC. Here is a photo of us marching in the Queens Pride 2012 parade on June 3."

Berlin, Germany

From Teena Lashmore: "Hi from Berlin!"

Houston

Melanie Pang (in pink) taking a photo with the men (and "noodles") of Jenni's Noodle House, a Houston favorite.

Indianapolis, Indiana

From William George: "This is me at Indianapolis Pride 2012. I consider myself a Pride aficionado. I love all the togetherness and the fun times. This year's Indianapolis Pride was the largest the city had ever hosted, with the festival expanding to twice the size it was previously. The headliners were Deborah Cox and Cazwell. While I didn't get to see him in person, I snapped this picture next to a promotional poster of him."

Madison, Wisconsin

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Athens, Greece

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Los Angeles

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Toronto, Canada

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Brooklyn, New York

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Philadelphia

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New York City

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Boston

From T.J.

Boston

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Amarillo, Texas

Happy Gay Pride 2012 from Amarillo, TX -- Route 66 Cadillac Ranch!

Amarillo, Texas

Happy Gay Pride 2012 from Amarillo, Texas -- Cadilliac Ranch!

Charleston, West Virginia

Boston

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Detroit, Michigan

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Huntington, New York

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Denver, Colorado

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Los Angeles

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New York City

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Sacramento, California

Washington, D.C.

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Washington, D.C.

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