Gender-neutral passport rules are 'unlawful', Court of Appeal hears

'The government's rules on gender-neutral passports are "unlawful" 
and breach human rights, a court has heard.
Judges at the Court of Appeal are hearing the case of campaigner Christie Elan-Cane, 
who wants passports to have an "X" category for those who do not identify as fully male 
nor female.
The campaigner believes the UK's passport process is "inherently discriminatory".
Lawyers representing the home secretary are contesting the legal challenge.
The case centres on whether the current policy run by the UK passport office 
- which is part of the Home Office - is lawful.
Currently, all UK passport holders have to specify whether they are male or female.
Christie Elan-Cane believes the policy breaches the right to respect for private life, 
and the right not to be discriminated against on the basis of gender or sex, under the European Convention on Human Rights.
The campaign for recognition of non-gendered identity in UK law and society started 
more than 25 years ago.
Last year,a High Court challenge  calling for gender-neutral passports was lost but the 
case has now been taken to the Court of Appeal.
On Tuesday, Christie Elan-Cane's lawyer, Kate Gallafent, told the three judges: 
"There is little which is more fundamental and deeply personal than an individual's 
gender identity."
She said those affected by the government's current passport rules 
"face a choice between the degrading experience of applying for, bearing and using 
a passport that does not accurately reflect their gender identity, or forgoing the use 
of a passport at all."
People who do not consider themselves as exclusively male or female include members 
of the trans community and intersex people.'

Read more: Gender-neutral passport rules are 'unlawful', Court of Appeal hears
https://www.davidicke.com/article/560037/gender-neutral-passport-rules-unlawful-court-appeal-hears