Canada: Government discovering 'best way' for gender-neutral ID card

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said that his country was considering the introduction of gender-neutral identification cards for its citizens. On Sunday (3 July), he became the first Canadian prime minister to attend the Toronto gay pride parade and told a local news channel that his government was discovering the "best way" to use the new ID cards.

Although Trudeau did not share any further details, he said, "That's part of the great arc of history sweeping towards justice." In an emailed statement to CBS News, a PMO spokeswoman said that they were exploring the changes that will be needed to be incorporated into the system.

"We are conducting a review of all the circumstances in which the government requires or produces identity documents in order not to exclude people whose gender identity does not match the binary standard. This could include neutrality in several situations," the statement read.

Trudeau, who was joined by other politicians at the parade, remembered the victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting and said, "We have to remember the importance of safe spaces and safe communities, like the Pulse was, is something to uphold."

He also condemned the policy that restricted gay men from donating blood for a year. He said that this policy was "not good enough" and the government was working towards moderating it.

According to Canadian Blood Services rules, men who had sex with other men were restricted from donating blood for five years, which was reduced to one year in June.

In the same month, Ontario – a province in Canada – introduced a third gender symbol "X" for those applying for a driver's licenses. Australia, New Zealand and Nepal are a few other countries that have a similar policy.