TITLE:
Neither Pink Nor Blue
DESCRIPTION:
After several other countries in @@REGION@@ recently introduced passports with gender designations other than male or female, civil rights campaigners are now petitioning your office to revise the available gender markers on @@ADJECTIVE@@ identification documents as well.
OPTION ONE
"Forcing everyone to officially identify as either male or female is really quite restrictive," explains petitioner Tabby Mouthfeel, absentmindedly playing with a human skull while listening to some synthwave. "Think of gender as being more like a spectrum, with all kinds of gorgeous shades between and beyond those two possibilities. Non-binary genders may be relatively uncommon, but that's no reason to sweep them under the cisheteropatriarchal rug and pretend they don't exist! Why not provide passport applicants with a write-in space in addition to the established two options?"
Effect: the number of officially recognized gender designations is gradually approaching the number of @@DEMONYMPLURAL@@
OPTION TWO
"Political correctness gone amok!" scoffs red-faced @@RANDOMNAME@@, president of the conservative @@CAPITAL@@ Family Values Institute. "You know, if you start showing acceptance to this bunch, you'll only encourage others to join their ranks, and before you know it, we'll be a liberal hellscape just like Brancaland!" @@HE@@ shudders. "No, we need to make sure that our school curriculums are clear that a person's gender is either male or female and determined at conception by his or her chromosomes. No need to confuse the kids with details like intersex conditions and what have you."
Effect: school children are taught that boys will be boys and girls will be girls
OPTION THREE
"We could make this much simpler," muses @@RANDOMNAME@@, a free-thinking official at the @@ADJECTIVE@@ Bureau of Statistics. "I don't see why the government should bother to register people's gender in the first place. I mean, why keep track of differences that we all agree shouldn't matter? Plus, it should simplify our record-keeping, which is always a good thing, right?"
Effect: statisticians have no idea how to determine whether a gender pay gap still exists
TITLE:
Neither Pink Nor Blue
DESCRIPTION:
Last week, a visitor from Brancaland was the first to enter @@NAME@@ on a passport with a gender designation other than male or female. Emboldened by the traction that this story got in several media outlets, civil rights campaigners are now petitioning your office to revise the available gender markers on @@ADJECTIVE@@ identification documents as well.
OPTION ONE
"I just love to get oot and aboot with my new passport!" exclaims Jessie Bieber, the Brancalandian in question, sporting a unisex parka adorned with a maple-shaped button that reads "They/Them/Theirs." "For folks like me, having official documents identifying us as either 'male' or 'female' is a total gong show. Gender is more like a spectrum, with all kinds of possibilities between and beyond just those two points. Why not provide your citizens with an alternative option, like a write-in space, in addition to the established two genders, eh?"
Effect: the number of officially recognized gender designations is gradually approaching the number of @@DEMONYM@@
OPTION TWO
"We could make this much simpler," muses @@RANDOMNAME@@, a free-thinking official at the @@ADJECTIVE@@ Bureau of Statistics. "I don't see why the government should bother to register people's gender in the first place. I mean, why keep track of differences that we all agree shouldn't matter? Plus, it should simplify our record-keeping, which is always a good thing, right?"
Effect: statisticians have no idea how to determine whether a gender pay gap still exists
OPTION THREE
"Political correctness gone amok!" scoffs red-faced @@RANDOMNAME@@, president of the conservative @@CAPITAL@@ Family Values Institute. "You know, if you start showing acceptance to this bunch, you'll only encourage others to join their ranks, and before you know it, we'll become a liberal hellscape just like Brancaland!" He shudders. "No, we need to make sure that our school curriculums are clear that a person's gender is either male or female and determined at conception by his or her chromosomes. No need to confuse the kids with details like intersex conditions and what have you."
Effect: school children are taught that boys will be boys and girls will be girls
Neither Pink Nor Blue
DESCRIPTION:
Last week, a visitor from Brancaland was the first to enter @@NAME@@ on a passport with a gender designation other than male or female. Emboldened by the traction that this story got in several media outlets, civil rights campaigners are now petitioning your office to revise the available gender markers on @@ADJECTIVE@@ identification documents as well.
OPTION ONE
"I just love to get oot and aboot with my new passport!" exclaims Jessie Bieber, the Brancalandian in question, sporting a unisex parka adorned with a maple-shaped button that reads "They/Them/Theirs." "For folks like me, having official documents identifying us as either 'male' or 'female' is a total gong show. Gender is more like a spectrum, with all kinds of possibilities between and beyond just those two points. Why not provide your citizens with an alternative option, like a write-in space, in addition to the established two genders, eh?"
Effect: the number of officially recognized gender designations is gradually approaching the number of @@DEMONYM@@
OPTION TWO
"We could make this much simpler," muses @@RANDOMNAME@@, a free-thinking official at the @@ADJECTIVE@@ Bureau of Statistics. "I don't see why the government should bother to register people's gender in the first place. I mean, why keep track of differences that we all agree shouldn't matter? Plus, it should simplify our record-keeping, which is always a good thing, right?"
Effect: statisticians have no idea how to determine whether a gender pay gap still exists
OPTION THREE
"Political correctness gone amok!" scoffs red-faced @@RANDOMNAME@@, president of the conservative @@CAPITAL@@ Family Values Institute. "You know, if you start showing acceptance to this bunch, you'll only encourage others to join their ranks, and before you know it, we'll become a liberal hellscape just like Brancaland!" He shudders. "No, we need to make sure that our school curriculums are clear that a person's gender is either male or female and determined at conception by his or her chromosomes. No need to confuse the kids with details like intersex conditions and what have you."
Effect: school children are taught that boys will be boys and girls will be girls
TITLE:
Neither Pink Nor Blue
DESCRIPTION:
Last week, a visitor from Brancaland was the first to enter @@NAME@@ with a passport marked O for "other" instead of M for "male" or F for "female." Emboldened by the traction that this story got in some progressive media outlets, civil rights campaigners are now petitioning your office to introduce additional gender options on @@ADJECTIVE@@ identification documents as well.
OPTION ONE
"I just love to get oot and aboot with my new passport!" exclaims Jessie Bieber, the Brancalandian in question, sporting a plaid toque adorned with a maple-shaped button that reads "They/Them/Theirs." "Having official documentation that reflects who I am is really affirming and helpful. Seeing as you @@DEMONYM@@ are such a fair-minded lot, I bet you would see the benefits of introducing a non-binary gender option for your own citizens too, eh?"
Effect: old passports are repurposed as confetti for @@CAPITAL@@ Pride
OPTION TWO
"Why stop at three options?" rhetorically inquires prominent transgender WhoTube personality Tabby Mouthfeel. "There are dozens, no, hundreds of valid genders out there. We may be minorities, but that does not mean it's okay to sweep us under the cisheteropatriarchal rug and systematically erase our existence! It is up to people themselves to decide how they identify. Birth certificates, passports and identity cards should express that truth in all its glorious diversity."
Effect: the number of available gender markers for @@ADJECTIVE@@ passports is gradually approaching the number of @@DEMONYM@@
OPTION THREE
"We could make this much simpler," muses @@RANDOMNAME@@, a free-thinking official at the @@ADJECTIVE@@ Bureau of Statistics. "I don't see why the government should bother to register people's gender in the first place. I mean, why keep track of differences that we all agree shouldn't matter? Plus, it should simplify our record-keeping, which is always a good thing, right?"
Effect: statisticians have no idea how to determine whether a gender pay gap still exists
OPTION FOUR
"Political correctness gone amok!" scoffs red-faced @@RANDOMNAME@@, president of the conservative @@CAPITAL@@ Family Values Institute. "You know, if you start showing acceptance to this bunch, you'll only encourage others to join their ranks, and before you know it, we'll become a liberal hellscape just like Brancaland!" He shudders. "No, we need to make sure that our school curriculums are clear that a person's gender is either male or female and determined at conception by his or her chromosomes. No need to confuse the kids with details like intersex conditions and what have you."
Effect: school children are taught that boys will be boys and girls will be girls
TITLE:
Neither Pink Nor Blue
VALIDITY:
Citizens can change their legal gender; that is, nation has gone with the first option of issue 66 (alternatively, if adding a policy or permanent marker to that effect is deemed unfeasible by the editors: high personal freedom, high inclusion, low conservatism).
DESCRIPTION:
Transgender campaigners have petitioned the government to enable citizens to change their gender designation on official documents - not from male to female or vice versa, but to a new, third gender.
OPTION ONE
"It's about equality," states androgynous-looking petitioner Jessie Rivera, wearing a purple button that reads "They/Them/Theirs." "The current passport application process requires intersex and nonbinary folks to declare whether they are male or female, even if they don't identify as either! We may be a minority, but that does not mean it's right to sweep us under the rug and force us to hide who we are. It is time for @@NAME@@ to allow third gender designations on its birth certificates, passports and identity cards."
Effect: old passports are repurposed as confetti for @@CAPITAL@@ Pride
OPTION TWO
"Political correctness gone amok!" scoffs @@RANDOMNAME@@, president of the conservative @@CAPITAL@@ Family Values Institute. "You know, if you start showing acceptance to this bunch, you'll only encourage others to join their ranks. Instead, we need to make sure that our school curriculums are clear that a person's gender is either male or female and determined at conception by his or her chromosomes. No need to confuse the kids with details like intersex conditions and what have you."
Effect: school children are taught that boys will be boys and girls will be girls
OPTION THREE
"We could make this much simpler," muses @@RANDOMNAME@@, a nonconformist intern at the @@ADJECTIVE@@ Bureau of Statistics. "I don't see why the government should bother to register people's gender in the first place. I mean, why keep track of differences that we all agree shouldn't matter? Plus, it should simplify our record-keeping, which is always a good thing, right?"
Effect: statisticians have no idea how to determine whether a gender pay gap still exists
TITLE:
Neither Pink Nor Blue
VALIDITY:
Citizens can change their legal gender; that is, nation has gone with the first option of issue 66. Alternatively, if adding a policy or permanent marker to that effect is deemed unfeasible by the editors: high personal freedom, high inclusion, low conservatism.
DESCRIPTION:
Transgender campaigners have petitioned the government to enable citizens to change their gender designation on official documents - not from male to female or vice versa, but to a new, third gender.
OPTION ONE
"It's about equality," states androgynous-looking petitioner Jessie Rivera, wearing a purple button that reads "They/Them/Theirs." "The current passport application process requires intersex and nonbinary folks to declare whether they are male or female, even if they don't identify as either! We may be a minority, but that does not mean it's right to sweep us under the rug and force us to hide who we are. It is time for @@NAME@@ to allow third gender designations on its birth certificates, passports and identity cards."
Effect: old passports are repurposed as confetti for @@CAPITAL@@ Pride
OPTION TWO
"Political correctness gone amok!" scoffs @@RANDOMMALENAME@@, president of the conservative @@CAPITAL@@ Family Values Institute. "You know, if you start showing acceptance to this bunch, you'll only encourage others to join their ranks. Instead, we need to make sure that our school curriculums are clear that a person's gender is either male or female and determined at conception by his or her chromosomes. No need to confuse the kids with details like intersex conditions and what have you."
Effect: school children are taught that boys will be boys and girls will be girls
OPTION THREE
"We could make this much simpler," muses @@RANDOMNAME@@, a nonconformist intern at the @@ADJECTIVE@@ Bureau of Statistics. "I don't see why the government should bother to register people's gender in the first place. I mean, why keep track of differences that we all agree shouldn't matter? Plus, it should simplify our record-keeping, which is always a good thing, right?"
Effect: statisticians have no idea how to determine whether a gender pay gap still exists
TITLE:
Neither Pink Nor Blue
VALIDITY:
Citizens can change their legal gender; that is, nation has gone with the first option of issue 66. Alternatively, if adding a policy or permanent marker to that effect is deemed unfeasible by the editors: high personal freedom, high inclusion, low conservatism.
DESCRIPTION:
Transgender campaigners have petitioned the government to enable citizens to change their gender designation on official documents - not from male to female or vice versa, but to a new, third gender.
OPTION ONE
"It's about equality," states androgynous-looking petitioner Jessie Rivera, wearing a purple button that reads "They/Them/Theirs." "The current passport application process requires intersex and nonbinary folks to declare whether they are male or female, even if they don't identify as either! We may be a minority, but that does not mean it's right to swipe us under the rug and force us to hide who we are. It is time for @@NAME@@ to allow third gender designations on its birth certificates, passports and identity cards."
Effect: the passport application form lists dozens of different gender options
OPTION TWO
"Our government IDs are fine just as they are!" objects @@RANDOMMALENAME@@, president of the conservative @@CAPITAL@@ Family Values Institute. "You know, if you start showing acceptance to this bunch, you'll only encourage others to join their ranks. Instead, we need to make sure that our school curriculums are clear that a person's gender is either male or female and determined at conception by his or her chromosomes. No need to confuse the kids with details like intersex conditions and what have you."
Effect: school children are taught that boys will be boys and girls will be girls
OPTION THREE
"We could make this much simpler," muses @@RANDOMNAME@@, a nonconformist intern at the @@ADJECTIVE@@ Bureau of Statistics. "I don't see why the government should bother to register people's gender in the first place. I mean, why keep track of differences that we all agree shouldn't matter? Plus, it should simplify our record-keeping, which is always a good thing, right?"
Effect: statisticians have no idea how to determine whether a gender pay gap still exists
TITLE:
Unconventional IDs
VALIDITY:
Citizens can change their legal gender; that is, nation has gone with the first option of issue 66. Alternatively, if adding a policy or permanent marker to that effect is deemed unfeasible by the editors: high personal freedom, high inclusion, low conservatism.
DESCRIPTION:
Transgender campaigners have petitioned the government to enable citizens to change their gender designation on official documents - not from male to female or vice versa, but to a new, third gender.
OPTION ONE
"Gender is not just pink or blue," states androgynous-looking petitioner Jessie Rivera, wearing a purple button that reads "They/Them/Theirs." "The current passport application process forces intersex and nonbinary folks to declare whether they are male or female, even if they don't identify as either! In the name of equality and inclusion, it is time for @@NAME@@ to allow third gender designations on its birth certificates, passports and identity cards."
Effect: the new passport application form lists dozens of different gender options
OPTION TWO
"Our government IDs are fine just as they are!" counters @@RANDOMMALENAME@@, president of the conservative @@CAPITAL@@ Family Values Institute. "If you start showing acceptance to this tiny minority, you'll only encourage others to join their ranks. Instead, we need to make sure that our school curriculums are clear that a person's gender is either male or female and determined at conception by his or her chromosomes. No need to trouble the kids with confusing details like intersex conditions and what have you."
Effect: school children are taught that boys will be boys and girls will be girls
OPTION THREE
"We could make this much simpler," muses @@RANDOMNAME@@, a nonconformist intern at the @@ADJECTIVE@@ Bureau of Statistics. "I don't see why the government should bother to register people's gender in the first place. I mean, why keep track of differences that we all agree shouldn't matter? Plus, it should simplify our record-keeping, which is always a good thing, right?"
Effect: statisticians have no idea how to determine whether a gender pay gap still exists
TITLE:
Neither Pink Nor Blue
VALIDITY:
Citizens can change their legal gender; that is, nation has gone with the first option of issue 66. Alternatively, if adding a policy or permanent marker to that effect is deemed unfeasible by the editors: high personal freedom, high inclusion, low conservatism.
DESCRIPTION:
Transgender campaigners have petitioned the government to enable citizens to change their gender designation on official documents - not from male to female or vice versa, but to a new, third gender.
OPTION ONE
"It's about recognition," states androgynous-looking petitioner Jessie Rivera, wearing a purple T-shirt that reads "They/Them/Theirs." "The current passport application process forces intersex and nonbinary folks to declare whether they are male or female, even if they don't identify as either! In the name of equality and inclusion, it is time for @@NAME@@ to allow third gender designations on its birth certificates, passports and identity cards."
Effect: passport applicants can now choose from over one hundred different gender options
OPTION TWO
"Political correctness gone amok!" scoffs @@RANDOMMALENAME@@, president of the conservative @@CAPITAL@@ Family Values Institute. "If you start showing acceptance to this tiny minority, that will only encourage others to follow in their footsteps. Official documents ought to reflect the obvious, basic fact that a person's gender is either male or female and determined at conception by the individual's sex characteristics. Or their genetics. Or their chromosomes. Or something like that."
Effect: the government maintains that boys will be boys and girls will be girls
OPTION THREE
"We could make this much simpler," muses @@RANDOMNAME@@, a nonconformist intern at the @@ADJECTIVE@@ Department of Statistics. "I don't see why the government should bother to register people's gender in the first place. I mean, why keep track of differences that we all agree shouldn't matter? Plus, it should simplify our record-keeping, which is always a good thing, right?"
Effect: statisticians have no idea how to determine whether a gender pay gap still exists
TITLE:
Neither Pink Nor Blue
VALIDITY:
Citizens can change their legal gender; that is, nation has gone with the first option of issue 66. Alternatively, if adding a policy or permanent marker to that effect is deemed unfeasible by the editors: high personal freedom, high inclusion, low conservatism.
DESCRIPTION:
Transgender campaigners have petitioned the government to enable citizens to change their gender designation on official documents - not from male to female or vice versa, but to a new, third gender.
OPTION ONE
"Gender is not just pink or blue," states androgynous-looking petitioner @@RANDOMGENDERNEUTRALNAME@@, wearing a purple button that reads "They/Them/Theirs." "The current passport application process forces intersex and nonbinary folks to declare whether they are male or female - even if they don't identify as either! In the name of equality and inclusion, it is time for @@NAME@@ to allow a third gender designation on its birth certificates, passports and identity cards."
Effect: people are classified as 'male', 'female', or 'other'
OPTION TWO
"Political correctness gone amok!" scoffs @@RANDOMNAME@@, president of the conservative @@CAPITAL@@ Family Values Institute. "Listen, @@LEADER@@, if you start showing acceptance to this tiny minority, that will only encourage others to follow in their footsteps. No! Official documents ought to reflect the obvious, basic fact that a person's gender is either male or female and determined at conception by the individual's sex characteristics. Or their genetics. Or their chromosomes. Or something like that."
Effect: the government maintains that boys will be boys and girls will be girls
OPTION THREE
"We could make this much simpler," muses @@RANDOMNAME@@, a nonconformist intern at the @@NAME@@ Department of Statistics. "I don't see why the government should bother to register people's gender in the first place. I mean, why keep track of differences that we all agree shouldn't matter? Plus, it ought to simplify our record-keeping, which is always a good thing, right?"
Effect: statisticians have no idea how to determine whether a gender pay gap still exists
Changes from 2.3. to draft 2.4: Option 1: 'prominent whotube personality' -> 'petitioner'.
Changes from 2.3. to draft 2.4: The Bieber is out and the Mouthfeel is back in.
Changes from 2.2. to draft 2.3: Following CWA's feedback, I combined the first two options, making it one in which the speaker asks for all documents to have three options: male, female, or a write-in space. Also de-emphasized the transgender part, and included reference to the gender spectrum.
Changes from 2.1. to draft 2.2: Made the second speaker a Contrapoints reference, and named the first speaker Jessie Bieber (a unisex first name with a very recognizably Canadian last name). Switched the final two options.
Changes from Version 1.6 to draft 2.1: I received feedback that I need to include an option to allow many different possible gender markers, and that the whole issue could use a bit more humour to make it more interesting. The introduction now speaks of a Brancalandian tourist, who is the speaker in a new first option. The second (formerly first) option has been reworked; minor changes in the latter two options.
Changes from draft 5 to draft 6: Changes in second option; some of which reverted after feedback.
Changes from draft 4 to draft 5: Changed the first effect line, and the first sentence of the second option.
Changes from draft 3 to draft 4: Changed the title back; rephrased second and third options.
Changes from draft 2 to draft 3: I changed the title. Also, because I realized that the second option was functionally not different from dismissing the issue, I rewrote it so that it now has effects beyond keeping government IDs as they are. Finally, I also slightly altered the first option and its effect line.
Changes from 2.3. to draft 2.4: The Bieber is out and the Mouthfeel is back in.
Changes from 2.2. to draft 2.3: Following CWA's feedback, I combined the first two options, making it one in which the speaker asks for all documents to have three options: male, female, or a write-in space. Also de-emphasized the transgender part, and included reference to the gender spectrum.
Changes from 2.1. to draft 2.2: Made the second speaker a Contrapoints reference, and named the first speaker Jessie Bieber (a unisex first name with a very recognizably Canadian last name). Switched the final two options.
Changes from Version 1.6 to draft 2.1: I received feedback that I need to include an option to allow many different possible gender markers, and that the whole issue could use a bit more humour to make it more interesting. The introduction now speaks of a Brancalandian tourist, who is the speaker in a new first option. The second (formerly first) option has been reworked; minor changes in the latter two options.
Changes from draft 5 to draft 6: Changes in second option; some of which reverted after feedback.
Changes from draft 4 to draft 5: Changed the first effect line, and the first sentence of the second option.
Changes from draft 3 to draft 4: Changed the title back; rephrased second and third options.
Changes from draft 2 to draft 3: I changed the title. Also, because I realized that the second option was functionally not different from dismissing the issue, I rewrote it so that it now has effects beyond keeping government IDs as they are. Finally, I also slightly altered the first option and its effect line.
1. Canada, for which Brancaland is an analogue, is among the countries that allow third gender passports.
2. I've consulted and/or drawn inspiration from the following news articles:
- http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... igner.html
- https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2017/10/11/u ... passports/
- https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states ... rtificates
- https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/201 ... 359260001/
- https://www.npr.org/2016/06/17/48248018 ... ird-gender
- http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/01 ... n-ids.html
- https://www.cnn.com/2018/01/04/health/w ... index.html
- http://www.fox5ny.com/news/nyc-birth-ce ... e-x-gender
- http://lmtribune.com/northwest/washingt ... c436a.html
- https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfr ... for-norrie
- http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/opi ... story.html
- https://www.theguardian.com/global-deve ... r-movement
2. I've consulted and/or drawn inspiration from the following news articles:
- http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... igner.html
- https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2017/10/11/u ... passports/
- https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states ... rtificates
- https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/201 ... 359260001/
- https://www.npr.org/2016/06/17/48248018 ... ird-gender
- http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/01 ... n-ids.html
- https://www.cnn.com/2018/01/04/health/w ... index.html
- http://www.fox5ny.com/news/nyc-birth-ce ... e-x-gender
- http://lmtribune.com/northwest/washingt ... c436a.html
- https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfr ... for-norrie
- http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/opi ... story.html
- https://www.theguardian.com/global-deve ... r-movement
) which 
