Mx or Mre? HS BC’s 10 ‘gender neutral’ titles for its customers
TRANSGENDER customers with HSBC can now choose from ten gender neutral titles.
Those who do not identify as a Mr, Mrs, Miss or Ms will be able to choose from a range of options.
These include Mre, an abbreviation for mystery, Msr – a combination of Miss and Sir – and Ind, short for individual.
The customer’s chosen title will then be used by staff when speaking to them on the phone or in branch, as well as printed on bank statements and cards.
Other options include M, Myr, Mx, Sai and Ser. Misc, which stands for miscellaneous, and Pr, an abbreviation for person, can also now be used.
Although the policy is aimed at transgender people, anyone can choose one of these titles. HSBC said the titles ‘allow people who don’t identify as a particular gender, or who don’t want to be identified by gender, to choose the title that works for them’.
But human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell warned the array of titles risked attracting ridicule. He said: ‘It is commendable that HSBC is showing sensitivity and support for transgender customers…but I am not sure ten different titles are necessary. They risk creating confusion, misunderstanding, ridicule and backlash. Mx is the emerging consensus as the preferred gender neutral title. It covers transgender and intersex people, and anyone who doesn’t identify as male or female.
‘So I doubt whether the other nine titles are needed.’ A trans-
‘Risks creating ridicule’
gender person has a gender identity which differs to the gender they were assigned by birth, Mr Tatchell said.
‘While some transgender people will want to use a gender neutral title, others will want to be referred to by their newly- affirmed gender. For example, a transwoman may want to be referred to as Mrs, Miss or Ms.’
HSBC said the changes ‘offer transgender customers a better, more personal banking experience’.
The move follows action by other banks to be more inclusive. Metro already offers the Mx title and it was recently revealed Royal Bank of Scotland was axing mother’s maiden name as a security question to be sensitive to non-traditional families.