Anniversary of the positive gender entry "diverse"
On 01.01.2019, the option "diverse" was added to the birth register alongside "male", "female" and an open gender entry.
This "third option" gives people who are neither male nor female the right to exist beyond the binary gender order. According to a ruling by the Federal Constitutional Court (2017), they are entitled to the option of a positive gender entry. This decision was preceded by a long legal and activist process, which was initiated by Vanja in 2013 and supported by the "Dritte Option" campaign, among others (Sternberg, 2017; Dritte Option).
The "Act Amending the Personal Status Act" (German: “Gesetz zur Änderung des Personenstandsgesetzes”) was passed in December 2018 (BGBl. I page 2635). It has an impact on many areas such as employment law and protection against discrimination under the General Equal Treatment Act (ADS 2020). Numerous other laws need to be amended (Dutta & Fornasier, 2020). At the same time, the Civil Status Act is not yet realizing its full potential to allow all diverse people to decide on their gender entry in a self-determined manner. For example, people still have to present a medical certificate when applying for gender registration.
Today is a reminder of a step in the right direction, but should also be seen as a call to continue to be active for the rights of inter*, trans*, non-binary and diverse people.
Further information on the topic
- Federal Conference of Women's and Equal Opportunities Officers at Universities and University Hospitals (2023): "Statement on the law on self-determination with regard to gender entry (SBGG)" (in German)
- Federal Anti-Discrimination Agency: "Woman - Man - Divers: The 'Third Option' and the General Equal Treatment Act (AGG)" (in German)
Last updated: 20.12.2023
Sources (in German)
Antidiskriminierungsstelle (ADS, 2020): Mann – Frau – Divers: Die „Dritte Option“ und das Allgemeine Gleichbehandlungsgesetz, 08.04.2019. Last accessed 20.12.2023.
BGBl. I Seite 2635. Letzter Zugriff 20.12.2023.
Dritte Option: Was, warum, wie? Last accessed 20.12.2023.
Dutta, Anatol & Fornasier, Matteo (2020): Jenseits von männlich und weiblich – Menschen mit Varianten der Geschlechtsentwicklung im Arbeitsrecht und öffentlichen Dienstrecht des Bundes. Hg. von der Antidiskriminerungsstelle des Bundes. Last accessed 20.12.2023.
Sternberg, Jan (2017): Vanja darf jetzt inter sein. In: rnd.de, 08.11.2017. Last accessed 20.12.2023.