For the first time in Belgium, non-binary individuals will soon be able to request an identity card without any mention of gender. Hailed as a symbolic step forward, the reform is already raising concerns among LGBTQIA+ advocates.
Interior Minister Bernard Quintin (MR) announced the introduction of two types of ID cards. By default, Belgians will receive a card marked “M” or “F”. But upon formal request, it will be possible to obtain a genderless version.
While many see this as a step toward visibility for people outside the binary, LGBTQIA+ organisations remain cautious. “This is not what we asked for,” says Erynn Robert from Prisme, the federation of queer associations in Wallonia. Çavaria, its Flemish counterpart, adds that “nothing changes” for non-binary people, apart from having to “make their gender invisible”.
Critics highlight that the national registry number still reveals the gender assigned at birth, and that the reform could expose non-binary individuals to risks, especially when traveling abroad. Moreover, only offering the neutral card upon request could unintentionally create a new form of outing.
Prisme also regrets the lack of consultation and underlines that this reform falls short of addressing the 2019 Constitutional Court ruling, which challenged the binary-only approach in official documents.
A symbolic breakthrough, yes—but perhaps not yet the structural change many had hoped for.
Vous aimerez aussi
-
Vigna in Nice: Where Queer Books Breathe and Memories Live On
Right in the heart of Nice, there’s a bookshop where stories don’t just sit quietly
-
The BGS Winter Retreat: 12th Edition in Serre Chevalier
Every winter, a vibrant tapestry of familiar and new faces gathers from the BGS LGBTQIA+
-
“The Bundestag Is Not a Circus Tent”: Chancellor Merz Faces Backlash Over Rainbow Flag Refusal
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is at the center of a political storm after backing the
-
Épicentre: Inclusive Health and Well-Being for All in Brussels
Located in the heart of Saint-Gilles, Brussels, Épicentre is a multidisciplinary center dedicated to care,
-
Daryacu: A Safe Haven in Brussels for the Marginalized and Vulnerable
In the heart of Saint-Josse, Brussels, a unique project is quietly making a big difference