BOY, girl or indeterminate? Germany will soon become the first country in Europe to legally recognise a third 鈥渋ndeterminate鈥� gender in cases where a baby鈥檚 anatomy is ambiguous 鈥� because of developmental or genetic problems 鈥� making it difficult for doctors and parents to decide if a child is male or female.
The aim of the , unveiled last week by justice minister Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger, is to avoid the need to label an intersex baby as male or female before the child is old enough to decide for itself.
鈥淐hildren have had no say in the matter,鈥� says of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association. He says intersex babies are often surgically made female 鈥� the easier option, but one that can lead to physical and psychological problems.
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This article appeared in print under the headline 鈥淚t鈥檚 OK to be neither鈥�
