Netherlands Issues First Gender-Neutral Passport
The Netherlands has issued its first ever gender-neutral passport to Leonne Zeegersafter a lengthy court battle, The Independentreports.
The 57-year-old had gender confirmation surgery in 2001 but now identifies as gender-neutral, using she/her pronouns. She sued the government to be able to identify as “gender X” on her passport and on official documents, she won the case in May after a two-year battle.
Zeegers’ win is, however, a once off for the country, although activists hope this case will allow other trans and gender-nonconforming people to listed as “gender X” in the future.
“I have lived life on both sides; sometimes I feel as a man, sometimes I feel as a woman, sometimes I don’t feel anything,” Zeegers said to The Guardian.
“My parents didn’t want to operate on me and so they raised me up as Leon, a boy.
“It was no problem because I was a very strong boy, everyone accepted me, and nobody had to look between my legs. Nobody knew then.
“Sometimes I acted a little bit female but often I was playing the tough guy, I was macho.”
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