Hello UK folk

[kaberett]

I've put together a petition requesting that government bodies include a non-specific gender-neutral honorific such as Mx in all preset lists of titles. I'll be very grateful if you sign & signal-boost.

The very short explanation is that I think it's ridiculous to have a list that includes "Wing Commander" but not "Mx" (as is the case when using the fill-in-on-a-computer version of the ESA application form).

The slightly longer version is that applying for benefits etc ends up with me being misgendered a lot, which is rather uncomfortable, and last week ended up with me being addressed by my grandmother's name (I am not Mrs B. My mother is not Mrs B. That's... very much my deceased grandmother, thanks.) On top of that, a lot of places -- including banks -- make the (completely spurious) claim that they can't offer Mx as a title because HMRC doesn't: if the government can be persuaded to set an example, a whole lot of other institutions and organisations are suddenly going to have to fall into line.

(Last week I realised, slightly to my astonishment, that I hadn't seen this done; and a trawl of petitions.parliament.uk didn't show anything up. So here we are.)

Comments

[syntaxofthings]

it brightens my day that you have the willpower to fight this battle. <3

[kaberett]

Thank you ever so much for saying. <3

[rydra_wong]

Signed!

The very short explanation is that I think it's ridiculous to have a list that includes "Wing Commander" but not "Mx" (as is the case when using the fill-in-on-a-computer version of the ESA application form).

This does lead to the thought that if they won't allow Mx, there should be a second petition to demand that all non-binary people be given the honorary title of Wing Commander.

[kaberett]

YES INDEED.

[untonuggan]

CONCUR WHOLEHEARTEDLY

[firecat]

Yep. Or Captain Tightpants.

[vass]

YES GOOD.

[steorra]

I realized I could sign because I am in fact a UK citizen due to being born there, so I did.

[kaberett]

Oh awesome, thank you! I don't think I knew that!

[untonuggan]

I'm sending this to all my rel's with >.> about them signing it.

(those are dagger eyes)

[kaberett]

Thank you!

[shewhostaples]

Done and done, particularly on the 'or none' part.

[kaberett]

Thank you <3

(I keep kicking myself for having left out any mention of the trans equality report, but I think I don't actually need to be cross with myself about that.)

[sfred]

Limited character count - and I don't think it's necessary.

[littlebutfierce]

I have signed it! Hooray you for starting it. IDK why I can have Mx. on my prescription prepayment card but not anything else (apparently). -_-

[kaberett]

Thank you! :-)

[white_hart]

Signed!

[kaberett]

Thank you!

[ceb]

OMG can you be Mx in the NHS? I may have to get that sorted when I have a spare tuit.

[kaberett]

Yep! Which bit of it you're talking to affects how hard you have to argue, but Mx is one of the options on the drop-down for pre-payment certificates and has been for years.

[davidgillon]

Will sign as soon as I get to the other computer, this one doesn't have all my details preloaded into the petitions site and I'm lacking spoons for form filling right now.

And it's both elegantly concise and clear and precise in what it's asking for. I got into a twitter spat with someone this evening who wanted me to sign/promote his petition, and didn't take well to me pointing out his major point isn't actually true, which gives the government an immediate Get out of Jail card in the event it gets a debate. He thought my only wanting to sign it if it was factually correct made me 'strange'.

[tree_and_leaf]

Signed.

[silveradept]

Cannot sign, but much support from across the pond.

[ex_we935]

can't sign from here, but we did come across this on twitter and signal-boosted it for our uk-based followers. i hope it gets signed!

~avory