A person from Dorchester has started a campaign to allow those that identify as non-binary to describe themselves as such on legal documentation.

Jamie Windust, who identifies as non-binary, is from Dorchester and went to Thomas Hardye School. They now work as a freelance writer and public speaker in London.

Non-binary refers to a person who does not subscribe to conventional gender distinctions but identifies with neither, both, or a combination of male and female genders.

Jamie started a campaign in February on the parliament website entitled: "Allow people to identify outside of 'male' and 'female' on legal documentation."

They said: "Non-binary people in the UK are currently unable to identify on legal documentation that their gender is neither male or female. We want to apply pressure on the UK government to allow non-binary, gender non-conforming, gender-fluid and intersex people the right to self-identify.

"Many non-binary people are prevented from self-identifying in institutions such as the NHS, HMRC, and when applying for a new passport.

"It not only is upsetting to not be allowed to be recognised by your own government as the gender that you self-identify with, but it leaves non-binary people feeling like we are not protected or seen as a people that deserve recognition in society.

"I started the petition as a result of trying to renew my passport and I realised that there was only two genders available, male and female on the passport so I couldn't identify myself as how I self-identify.

"I knew quite a few people in the community who felt the same when applying for driving licenses or changing their gender on birth certificates."

Jamie said he can identify as gender neutral with his HSBC banking and that other countries such as Germany and Iceland have already implemented this change.

At the time of writing, the petition had amassed more than 13,000 signatures. The government responds to all petitions that get more than 10,000 signatures. If the petition reaches 100,000 signatures by the deadline of August 12 it will be considered for debate in parliament.

"We haven't had a response from the government yet," Jamie said, "I have been sending emails to MPs and people in government to apply pressure and we hope to get a response soon."

The petition is available here: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/240636