gender category available to non-intersex people. The proposal was approved by the Bundestag in December 2018. On 22 December 2018, the adopted act entered into force, allowing the choice for intersex people (both at birth and at a later age) between "female", "male", "diverse" and no gender marker at all. In case of a change later in life, first names can also be changed. In the meantime, an appeals court had held that a nonbinary status must also be open to non-intersex non-binary people; the adopted act does not address this category of people and their situation therefore remains unclear pending additional case-law. Marriage Since 2017, persons classified as neither male nor female (or intersex people) can legally marry another person of any sex/gender within Germany. Since 1 October 2017, same-sex marriage became legal within Germany and registered partnerships that had been legally available since 2001, were abolished. Same-sex step adoption has also been legal since 2005 and was expanded in 2013 to allow someone in a same-sex relationship to adopt a child already adopted by their partner and full adoption rights for same-sex couples has been legally available since 1 October 2017 within Germany. See also German passport Intersex human rights OII Germany Zwischengeschlecht LGBT rights in Germany Transgender rights in Germany Human rights in Germany References Bibliography External links Intersexuelle Menschen OII Germany Zwischengeschlecht Law of Germany