British passports could scrap any mention of a person’s sex for the sake of ‘transsexual equality’, the Home Office says.
A Home Office spokeswoman confirmed that the security implications of such a radical move are being ‘explored’.
No decision has yet been taken and discussions are still at an early stage.
Burden
However, critics are concerned that such a move would place an undue burden on the UK Border Agency and there is confusion about how exactly the scheme would work.
According to the Daily Mail everyone would have to list their sex as ‘X’. But Reuters says a third gender category, ‘X’, would be introduced alongside ‘M’ and ‘F’.
Lynne Featherstone, an equalities minister, said: “We need concerted government action to tear down barriers and help to build a fairer society for transgender people.”
Security
And a spokeswoman for the Home Office’s Identity and Passport Service (IPS), said: “IPS is considering the gender options available to customers in the British passport.
“We are exploring with international partners and relevant stakeholders the security implications of gender not being displayed in the passport.
“This is at the early discussion stage and no decisions have been taken.”
Indeterminate
Under the current system transgender people are able to alter their passport to reflect their assumed sex once a surgical sex change has been completed and a gender recognition certificate has been issued.
Last week new passport rules were introduced in Australia which allow residents to identify their gender as male, female or indeterminate.
Australians who choose to say they are of indeterminate sex will see their passports list “X” as their sex.
Last year a British expat who became the first person in the world to be officially recognised as genderless lost his no-gender status.
