Gender-Neutral Language, Policies, and IDs

Multiple articles discussed gender-neutral policies surrounding pronouns, language, and forms of identification. Council members in Burlington, Massachusetts have changed the gendered title “Board of Selectmen” to the gender-neutral title “Select Board”. In Middleboro, Massachusetts the Select Board updated their city’s charter to include gender-neutral pronouns. One committee member stated, “We looked at our communities. The majority have changed to gender-neutral. We reached out to LGBTQ reps in order to discuss their opinions. They indicated this is the standard approach. We did our research.” Meanwhile, the North Myrtle Beach City Council in South Carolina is currently voting on whether they will change their city ordinance to gender-neutral pronouns or not. City commissioners in Gainesville, Florida are favoring a gender-neutral policy in which women would be able to be topless in public. 

Meanwhile, one article mentioned that six citizens of Malta have officially registered to use the gender-neutral “X” on their IDs. One nonbinary individual in the United States wrote about their experience in attaining a gender-neutral ID. The article mainly outlined the need for the Biden administration to “affirm trans and nonbinary rights by permitting X gender markers on all federal IDs.” Multiple articles mentioned that the Supreme Court in India is requesting for the government, or Centre, to apply religious and gender-neutral policies surrounding adoption. The petition stated, “Even after years of Independence, adoption and guardianship procedures are very complex, cumbersome and neither gender nor religion neutral.” Several articles discussed the United Kingdom’s Supreme Court’s recent announcement that they will hold a hearing on gender-neutral passport options in July. Christie Elan-Cane, who brought this case to the supreme court, stated, “Legitimate identity is a fundamental human right but non-gendered people are treated as though we have no rights. The UK government refuses to acknowledge our existence as it continues to ignore our disenfranchisement while its systems and bureaucracy render us socially invisible.”