HSBC to offer 'gender-neutral' titles on forms

One of Britain's largest banks is to offer 'gender-neutral' options for filling out forms, so as not to offend those who do not identify as their birth sex.

HSBC will offer ten titles that are ‘gender-neutral’ in addition to the standard titles of Mr, Mrs, Ms etc.

The titles include Ind, short for 'individual', Mre, which is short for 'mystery' and Pr which means 'person'.

Christian Concern’s Andrea Williams has described the new options as a "denial of reality" that will "confuse people".
 

Titles will be used on bank cards

The titles, which came in this week, will be applied across a customer's account, including their bank cards and correspondence.

The bank said that it has also made it easier for customers who wish to ‘change’ their gender on their bank account.

Customers now only need to bring a passport, driving licence or birth certificate showing their gender 'change'.

HSBC’s move follows Metro Bank, which last year became the first bank to allow customers who do not identify as male or female to open an account. This was a result of pressure from a Scottish teenager, who could not open a bank account because they did not want to identify as their birth sex.
 

'Playing into new political ideology'

LGBT pressure group Stonewall claimed: "The banking sector has taken huge strides towards making lesbian, gay, bi and trans employees and customers feel valued."

But Andrea Williams, Chief Executive of Christian Concern, said that HSBC’s decision is simply "playing into the hands of a new political ideology."

She continued: "HSBC thinks this is progressive but it is actually regressive and absurd and will confuse people. I think its sad if people want 'mystery' as a title. It is a denial of reality."

"Major public institutions are beginning to pander to this latest fad of political orthodoxy for fear of being seen as illiberal."
 

Related links:
HSBC to offer customers choice of ten titles to show they are gender neutral  (Telegraph) 
Teenager that does not identify as 'male' or 'female' unable to open a bank account (Independent) 
'Gender neutral' toilets and uniform introduced at London school