Dear Stats NZ, sex ≠ gender.

By: @Shut_the_fridge

08 March 2023

Attention: Stats NZ – Mark Sowden

Dear Mr Sowden, I am writing to explain why I have not included my individual census form along with my family’s individual forms and dwelling form.

At #54 Stats NZ ask me to sign the form declaring my answers to be true and complete.

I could not, in good conscience, answer this question honestly.

At #3 you asked me “What is your gender?”

male

female

another gender

I cannot complete this section because I neither have, nor believe in gender.

I cannot complete a form that includes a question on something that is not real, does not allow me to skip this question (incomplete census), or allow me to say I do not believe in gender.

I looked at your list of accepted responses for gender, and an answer of “none” is considered to be a gender.

Again: I have no gender, and do not believe in gender.

February 23, 2023 asking @2023Census Twitter account what would happen if the question was left blank or answered NONE they replied:

Kia ora, if you do not answer the census question “What is your gender, a gender response will be drawn from alternate data sources. These sources are being finalised, but it may include your answer to the “What was your sex at birth?” question.”

How can you assume I have a gender from my answer to #4 when sex and gender are not the same? The alternate data sources you draw a gender response from will be questions regarding sex, sex is not gender.

Under the Conversion Practices Prohibition Legislation Act 2022 5 (1) (b) you may not “change or suppress someone’s gender identity.”

I have no gender identity, I refuse for you to assign me one.

I will hand in my form when you have assured me I will not be assigned a gender, and you register me as having no gender and not believing in genders.

You whole section on gender in the Census has assumed that gender is in fact real and not just a social construct of sexist tropes about men and women.

Kind regards

Tracy

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