Toronto (Web Desk): Canada is introducing a third gender option on the country’s passports and immigration documents by the end of this month.
Canada’s immigration minister Ahmed Hussen announced that the new gender designation ‘X’ would come into effect from August 31.
“By introducing an ‘X’ gender designation in our government-issued documents, we are taking an important step towards advancing equality for all Canadians regardless of gender identity or expression,” Hussen said in a statement last week.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will be the first to introduce interim measures which will allow passport holders to add the ‘X.’ This solution will be in place until the IRCC can print the documents with the new designation, the Globe and Mail reported.
The statement continued: “An ‘X’ will make it easier for people who do not identify as female (‘F’) or male (‘M’) to acquire passports and other government-issued documents that better reflect their gender identity.”
The move follows similar calls to introduce the gender-neutral designation from LGBT rights groups around the world.
