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# UK Supreme Court rejects bid for gender-neutral passports
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/uk-supreme-court-rejects-bid-for-gender-neutral-passports/
- Published: 2021-12-18T10:10:38.000Z
- Updated: 2021-12-17T09:47:57.000Z
- Description: The UK has rejected the prospect of gender-neutral passports, following a campaign by non-gendered activist Christie Elan-Cane.
- Author: Rachel Badham
- Tags: News, Queer Corner, Christie Elan-Cane, European Court of Human Rights, Gender Neutral passports, LGBTQ, Mermaids, UK

The UK’s highest court has rejected the prospect of gender-neutral passports, following a campaign by non-gendered activist [Christie Elan-Cane](https://www.gscene.com/news/gay-news/uk-supreme-court-hears-gender-neutral-passports-case/?ref=scenemag.co.uk), whose pronouns are per/perself. After the case was heard in July, the court has [officially ruled](https://www.supremecourt.uk/cases/uksc-2020-0081.html?ref=scenemag.co.uk) in favour of the Home Office, which argued that issuing gender-neutral passports would have security implications and *“result in substantial administrative costs”*.

As there is currently *“no legislation in the United Kingdom which recognises a non-gendered category of individuals”*, the court’s judgement argued that Elan-Cane’s appeal is *“outweighed by the public interest*” in *“maintaining a coherent approach across government and the legal system”* in regards to gender categories. It concluded that the bid should be dismissed, even though a handful of other countries such as Iceland, India, Malta, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, and the US allow for gender-neutral passports.

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/christie-elan-cane-1.jpg)

Christie Elan-Cane

Following the ruling, Elan-Cane told [*PinkNews*](https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/12/15/christie-elan-cane-supreme-court-passport-ruling/?ref=scenemag.co.uk): *“I am not surprised but I am taken aback by some of the language in the judgement, which was quite appalling.”* Per also described the ruling as ‘disappointing’, after per first requested a gender-neutral passport in 1995\. However, [Elan-Cane](https://twitter.com/ChristieElanCan/status/1471059161672822787?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1471059161672822787%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fmermaidsuk.org.uk%2Fnews%2Fx-passport-case-dismissed-by-the-uks-supreme-court%2F&ref=scenemag.co.uk) has confirmed that per will be taking the case to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

LGBTQ+ activists and advocacy organisations also expressed disappointment at the court’s ruling, with [Mermaids](https://mermaidsuk.org.uk/news/x-passport-case-dismissed-by-the-uks-supreme-court/?ref=scenemag.co.uk) saying: *“We stand with Christie Elan-Cane and per tireless efforts in this case as well as all the other transgender, non-binary and gender diverse people impacted by this judgment.”*

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/passports-1.jpg)