I wrote this…
Today is the last day for responses to the UK Government’s 3rd survey of transgender people (which explicitly includes ‘androgynous’, ‘non-gender’ and ‘genderqueer’ options in the demographics section). This survey follows up on responses from the first two surveys by focusing on issues of employment, identity and privacy. If you’re in the UK and identify as trans*, genderqueer, non-binary or gender variant please complete the survey (sorry for the late notice!).
Below is a sample of Nat’s responses to the survey as a non-binary trans person:What do you think Government can do to help trans employees tackle workplace discrimination?
Clarify the ambiguous position of non-binary trans people [under The UK Equality Act].
Does expressing our gender identities constitute ‘gender reassignment’? Can ‘gender reassignment’ protections apply when the law does not recognise our genders as existing or valid?
Are we protected should we ask for gender neutral language to be used in reference to us rather than gendered words such as ‘man’, ‘woman’, ‘Mr’, ‘Ms’, ‘he’ and ‘she’?
If we undergo hormone treatments or have surgeries to treat the gender dysphoria arising from our non-binary genders, does this fall under the ‘gender reassignment’ protections even though we do not identify as an ‘opposite sex’ or gender?
Are we exempt from gender-specific dress code requirements such as short hair and ties for those with male ‘legal genders’ and makeup and skirts for those with female ‘legal genders’?…
Do you consider your current identity secure from disclosure?
No. Numerous services require a binary gender (female/male) or a gendered title/honorific (Mr/Ms etc) to be specified as required fields. As such I am misgendered or outed as transgender when ordering shopping, using my bank, registering for a library card etc. This is a particular problem where others complete my form for me or where computer form validation enforces entry of binary gender identifiers.
What can be done by Government to help you successfully live in your current identity?
Explicitly class gender as private information that it is not reasonable to ask for when providing goods and services (Data Protection Act should apply). Explicitly recognise and protect non-binary trans people, perhaps by wording the law as protecting ‘gender identity and expression’ rather than ‘gender reassignment’.
Are there any other issues concerning your privacy and/or identity you want to raise?
The government does not recognise my non-binary gender identity. Only binary (female/male) options are provided on birth certificates and passports. As such I am discriminated against by the government and denied Gender Recognition afforded to other trans people.
I consider the sex I was assigned at birth to be deeply personal information that is only relevant to a handful of medical professionals and my partner. However the law and common practice currently force me to disclose this in a wide variety of situations. Doing so causes me gender dysphoria, misgenders me and outs me as transgender in a way that binary trans people are able to avoid due to the Gender Recognition Act.
Please extend gender recognition protections to all trans people, not just those with binary identities. Please also help to establish that gender (even ‘legal gender’) is deeply personal information for many people and it should not be reasonable under the Data Protection Act to require its disclosure when ordering groceries online or signing up for local services.
