kaberett | ... it's a census year.

And, look, I do in fact recognise all the work involved in arriving at inclusion of a question about gender identity with a write-in field, but I still mostly want to scream and also cry.

Census 2021: Final guidance for the question “What is your sex?” --

How we evaluated the results of our research and testing to finalise the Census 2021 online help guidance for the question “What is your sex?”. Aims to ensure that it is in line with the target concept of sex being sex as recorded on legal/official documents and is publicly acceptable.

Which. You know. I would feel better about if it weren't for [gestures at UK political hellscape], and the ruling-out of recording my "sex" (which apparently doesn't even have a basis in biology but is just what's recorded on my legal documents!) correctly on my passport even though the specification includes the option to do so, and. I am very tired. And I have taken myself back to bed. And I am going to get a paper form so I can fill it out in the way that hurts least and is most accurate.

("The sex question has been asked since 1801." OH GOOD SO YOU'VE GOT 220 YEARS OF INACCURATE AND INCOMPLETE DATA AND DON'T WANT TO DISCONTINUE THIS TRADITION. GREAT. BRILLIANT. WHAT EXCELLENT SCIENCE.)