Norway could introduce a third gender option on passports for people who identify neither male nor female

'I believe that all people should be allowed to live out their identity,' says leader of Labour youth wing — 'the law should adapt to reality rather than the other way around'

Now “hen” can be used when the gender is unknown (Rex Features)

The Norwegian Labour Party is considering introducing a third gender category on passports and other official documents.

The party's youth wing has said it would like a new category — 'hen' — created for people who identify as neither male ('han') nor female ('hun').

Labour, which is the largest party in Norway's parliament, had previously said it would consider the move in its 2017-2021 draft party programme.

Neighbour Sweden introduced 'hen' as an official category in April 2015.

Labour youth leader Mani Hussaini said Norwegians should be able to identify as whatever they want.

“I believe that all people should be allowed to live out their identity," he said, in an interview with state broadcaster NRK. "The law should adapt to reality rather than the other way around".

He added the new category would allow those who do not identify with the gender binary to live more openly.

"Those people who neither define themselves as male or female will now have a legal opportunity to get a third gender," he said.

‘Hen’ has been used in Sweden since 1966, as a pronoun to replace he or she when the gender of a person is not known.

But until recently citizens were required to identify as male or female in official documents. 'Hen' was only adopted by parliament two years ago, sparking controversy.

In 2016, calls for the introduction of an official third category in Norway by social-liberal party Venstre failed to gain enough traction, garnering support only from the Green Party and the Socialist Left.