Germany introduces third gender for people who identify as intersex

People who do not fit biological definition of male or female can now choose category 'diverse' on official documents

German citizens who are 'intersex' - people who do not fit biologically as either male or female - will be able to chose a 'third gender option on official documents as of today, January 1. 

The German government in August voted to introduce the third category of 'various', alongside male and female, on birth certificates and other documents.

Both chambers of parliament approved the new law, with the Bundesrat upper house giving its backing last month.

Those choosing the option will need a doctor's certificate to register.

“Intersex” is a general term used for a variety of conditions in which a person is born with a reproductive or sexual anatomy that doesn’t seem to fit the typical definitions of female or male. For example, a person might be born appearing to be female on the outside, but having mostly male-typical anatomy on the inside. Or a person may be born with genitals that seem to be in-between the usual male and female types—for example, a girl may be born with a noticeably large clitoris, or lacking a vaginal opening, or a boy may be born with a notably small penis, or with a scrotum that is divided so that it has formed more like labia. Or a person may be born with mosaic genetics, so that some of her cells have XX chromosomes and some of them have XY.

Though we speak of intersex as an inborn condition, intersex anatomy doesn’t always show up at birth. Sometimes a person isn’t found to have intersex anatomy until she or he reaches the age of puberty, or finds himself an infertile adult, or dies of old age and is autopsied. Some people live and die with intersex anatomy without anyone (including themselves) ever knowing.

This is separate from a person's gender identity or sexual orientation.

But many face stigma, legal discrimination or even forced surgery because of these characteristics.

Other countries have approved laws in recent years to help recognise intersex people.

Austria's constitutional court made a similar ruling to Germany's in June, while Australia, New Zealand, Malta, India and Canada have all passed measures to redress issues facing intersex citizens.