The Walloon LGBTQIA+ federation, Prisme, criticised the Interior Minister’s decision to allow the removal of gender markers from identity cards upon request, on Wednesday.
Prisme’s General Coordinator, Erynn Robert, expressed disappointment, explaining that the move did not meet the sector’s needs and lamented the lack of consultation with LGBTQIA+ groups.
The federal government intended to remove binary options 'F' (for female) and 'M' (for male) from identity cards to represent all Belgians regardless of gender identity, in line with a Constitutional Court decision. Interior Minister, Bernard Quintin (MR), announced that they decided to allow the removal of this category upon request instead of introducing a third option 'X'.
"It's a kind of sticking plaster [on the issue]. Non-binary people will still have to choose between 'Female' or 'M'," Robert emphasised.
Prisme does not advocate for the removal of gender markers but instead for their invisibility. They seek alternatives beyond 'F' or 'M' for those who do not identify within these binary categories.
Germany, a pioneer in Europe, adopted a gender self-determination law in 2024, offering four options (equivalent to 'F', 'M', 'diverse', and 'blank') and the choice to make it invisible. Robert suggests Belgium should follow this example.
Prisme urges the government to collaborate with grassroots associations before implementing such measures, highlighting complexities due to legal dependencies on gender markers (such as national registry numbers).
Editor's note: the category on the Belgian ID is labelled as 'sex'. The term sex differs from gender. Gender markers was used in the article as it was the language chosen by the organisation and more accurately reflects the statements.
