Norway considers introducing a third gender

One of the first assignments Anette Trettebergstuen, the Minister for Gender Equality (Labour Party), handed out was to make a report that could form the basis for a bill about introducing a third legal sex. That is reported by Vart Land. Trettebergstuen had been a month in office when she announced that she would look into the theme.

The Bufdir is responsible for the research, which aims to determine which parts of the Norwegian legislation will be affected if a third gender is introduced. Trettebergstuen announced that at the end of last year. Currently, the Directorate is organising input meetings to acquire knowledge on the issue. The research should be done in early 2023, Vart Land writes.

The Minister of Culture and Gender Equality wants to legalise a third legal gender so that people who do not identify as male or female will have a category that corresponds to their identity when applying for identification documents. Trettebergstuen: “It will involve the inclusion of sexually active people, which has been in demand for a long time.”

Uncertain whether majority Storting is in favour of third sex

However, whether the Storting will pass a bill to introduce a third legal gender remains uncertain. Trettebergsuen acknowledged earlier that even though the Labour Party favours a third gender, the Socialist Party has not taken a stance on it yet. The Labour Party needs the Socialist Party to get a majority for the proposal. “I cannot guarantee it, but I want it”, she said in the Storting.

Trettebergsuen hopes that the report will contribute to a better debate. She is afraid that there are many prejudices and a significant lack of knowledge currently on the issue. “There is a lot that comes into the debate that does not belong there”, she said.