In addition to the standard genders, male and female, another option is being added to Germany's birth certificates. Parents will now be given the choice of selecting "blank" as the gender of their child.

This third gender option to be adopted by Germany makes it the first European Union member-country to include said option. The third gender option shall be added to all birth certificates starting first of November

The new law, which was introduced by the German Ethics Council, was drafted to safeguard the rights of inter-sexual children. Part of the new law states that "if a child cannot be designated male or female ... they should be entered in the birth register without such a status." The law aims to protect children from irreparable surgical or medical procedures.

"A key aim of the new rule is to relieve parents of the pressure of having to decide a sex straight after the child's birth, and thereby agreeing overly hastily to medical procedures to settle the child's sex," a German Interior Ministry spokesman said.

The law allowing third gender option will apply only to birth certificates. It shall not apply or will not change identification cards, driving permits, passports or other legal papers. Australia, the first country in the world to permit a third gender option, covers all personal and legal documents

Germany has pioneered this change and other European countries that re part o the European Union are expected to follow suit. Brussels is in the process of implementing laws that will fight gender discrimination. Finnish lawmakers have made progressive development towards the recognition of the third gender

Members of the third gender have shown much appreciation to Germany for initiating this change. The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Inter-sex Association's Director, Silvan Agius, hopes that other countries will follow the example that Germany has set.