As the US celebrates the doubles down on its gender obsession, Belgium has become the first country in Europe, and indeed the world, to allow people to remove gender designations from their official identification documents. This development was announced by the Belgian Interior Minister, Bernard Gintens, in an interview with the Flemish newspaper Het Nieuwsblad. The new policy is expected to provide a clear path for those who identify as non-binary — people who do not strictly identify as male or female — to have their identification reflect their identity.
The changes come amid broader discussions on gender identity within the European Union, despite ongoing geopolitical challenges. Belgium will not introduce a third gender option on identity documents; however, the removal of gender identifying markers is seen as a progressive step. Interested individuals must submit a "clear and formal request" for the change to take effect.
While this measure is groundbreaking, responses from the LGBTQ+ community indicate that it may not adequately address their needs. The organisation avaria has pointed out that the choice remains limited to male or female, and that merely concealing binary gender from IDs is not a comprehensive solution. They argue that, while it is a step forward, it still lacks the true inclusivity that many within the community seek.
Conversely, the youth organisation Wel Jong has expressed concerns that without an official third option, schools will continue to struggle with how to support non-binary students. “Today, school administrations explain to students that they must identify as ‘M’ or ‘F’, as there is no other legal option,” they argue, suggesting that formal recognition of a third identity would facilitate necessary support for non-binary minors.
In 2021, attempts were made by the Belgian government to reform the gender identification process, which included plans for a third option in administrative records. However, these efforts were thwarted by opposition parties who deemed it essential for gender to be a visible element on ID cards for the identification of citizens, as reiterated by Gintens.
On the other side of the Channel, tensions are rising due to a letter sent by the US Embassy in Paris, which requests that French companies in defence and infrastructure sectors discontinue their initiatives on diversity and inclusion to align with a decree from former President Donald Trump. The response from France has been one of strong condemnation, with the Ministry of Finance stating that "the values of the American government do not align with those of France." Patrick Martin, president of the French Business Confederation (Medef), described the letter as an imposition of American values on the global economy, calling for a robust response from European institutions.
Source: Noah Wire Services