For the first time, a French court has recognised a person as ‘gender neutral’.

The unnamed 64-year-old from Tours, central France, won the right to be recognised as gender neutral on official forms.

The person, who identifies as intersex, was referred to in the case as ‘ile’, a cross between ‘he’ and ‘she’ in French.

Appealing the ruling, the state prosecutor raised fears that a number of legal cases will be launched, resulting in a ‘third sex’.

Acting for the person, Mila Petkova, argued that a male identity was used to address the person for their entire life.

The court concluded that this was “pure fiction”.

“It was imposed upon him for his entire existence without him ever being able to express his deepest feelings,” the ruling said.

The court concluded in the August 20 ruling, which has just come to light, that the person has the “right to private life”, and that “the birth certificate of Monsieur X, which for the past 65 years has attributed to him a masculine gender, should be rectified and now include a ‘neutral status’”.

In August, Nepal joined the few countries which allow third gender passports, as it issues its first one.

The only other countries which allow third-gender, or gender ‘x’ passports are Australia and New Zealand.