Third Gender Option

Under guidelines released Thursday, Australian passports will now give citizens three gender options – male (M), female (F) and indeterminate (X) – in an effort to curb discrimination against transgender and intersex Australians as they travel.

Intersex individuals, those who do not identify as completely male or female biologically, can now legally list their gender as “X.” Transgender people, those whose biological gender doesn’t fit the way they see themselves, will not be allowed to tick “X,” but will be able to choose whether they are male or female, as long as they have a doctor's statement that they are transitioning.

Advocates say the law reform is significant: While Canada and the United States permit gender changes on passports, the Australian ruling is the first to go beyond M and F categories.