'Third gender' identity

Jan 24

Web Only

'Third gender' identity

Nepal to issue IDs for sexual minorities.

A Nepalese Transgender person attends the inaguration function of the First south Asian LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) sports festival at Dasrath stadium in Kathmandu, Nepal, 12 October 2012. (EPA / Narendra Shrestha)

More than five years after Nepal's Supreme Court ruled that citizenship certificates should include a "third gender" category for those who do not wish to identify themselves as male or female, the decision is now being implemented.

View the story "'Third gender' identity " on Storify'Third gender' identity Nepal to issue IDs for sexual minorities.Storified by The Stream· Wed, Jan 23 2013 13:44:08The 2007 decision required all citizenship certificates to clearly indicate an individual’s gender identity. The certificates, which work as national identity papers, are used when opening a bank account, purchasing property, accepting employment or applying for a passport.undp.orgNepal - Government-issued IDs with category of "third gender" MORE: http://i.actup.org/10oRKag #lgbt #trans http://pic.twitter.com/6Mnnb8BXactup.orgThe United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) created the following documentary to highlight the struggle of sexual minorities in Nepal. Nepal's Blue Diamond Society estimates there are around 500,000 MSM and transgender people in the country, of which 6,000 are living with HIV/AIDS.undp.orgNepal's Third GenderundpBelow a redditor provides a definition of "third gender".Most of them are biologically male (mixed chromosomes and hermaphrodites are rare), but function as females in society, where they often have a spiritual role for example in blessing weddings. They aren't just crossdressers. Sometimes their genitals (everything) were cut off in a ritual, but that has become rare.reddit.comAnother redditor distinguishes between a person's gender and sex:There are two descriptions for people and they are their sex and their gender. Their sex is what describes them physically but gender is more of a mental self identification. SystymThe following netizens expressed their support for the decision:Nepal challenging false gender binary, allowing "third gender" citizenship, @NCHSSocClub: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/nepal-to-issue-third-gender-citizenship-certificates-rights-activists-hail-decision/2013/01/22/77958c9e-6489-11e2-889b-f23c246aa446_story.html #GenderIsASocialConstructStefen RobinsonWonderful. People don't often look to Nepal for much more than its geography and history, but it's nice to see a smaller country leading a change as opposed to following larger countries.dinoladoOthers expressed disagreement:This is nonsense. There are 2 genders. #Biology101 RT @TimesLiveNews Nepal to issue third gender IDs in gay rights move http://tinyurl.com/ay7n3lzMonsieur BasaboseI'm all for equal rights. But X and Y chromosomes are X and Y chromosomes. tekno45Some questioned using the term "third gender":Nepal introduces transgender option on its state IDs. Not fond of the terminology they're using, but it's a big step. http://bit.ly/10PMIJCMahaI think part of the problem is the plethora of imprecise terminology, and to make it worse people use that terminology even more imprecisely.KermitDeeeFrogor, why have a field for gender at all? My passport does not list my ethnicity or religion, but they seem to figure out who I am all over the world.riverbendNetizens also discussed "third gender" categorization around the world:I didn't know that along with Nepal now, India, Australia (passports) and Pakistan (IDs) allow for more than 2 genders http://ow.ly/h2GvXMona EltahawySomehow I can't imagine the U.S. issuing third-gender certificates any time soon. http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/nepal-to-issue-third-gender-citizenship-certificates-rights-activists-hail-decision/2013/01/22/77958c9e-6489-11e2-889b-f23c246aa446_story.htmlPeter Moskowitz