In Australia Norrie May-Welby, a Scot who for years lived in Sydney, became the first human being without gender.

He became the first person worldwide to be recognised by a government "of unspecified sex." Norrie, 48, was born male but in 1990 he changed sex. Once he migrated to Australia he was given a certificate which declared him a female but then May-Welby "no longer felt comfortable with a female identity only."

"The identity of the man or woman to suit me. The best solution for me is not having a sexual identity," he said. The Australian authorities have therefore agreed to change the birth certificate classifying May-Welby as "neutral."