Making our registration services more inclusive

We want everyone to feel welcome and have a positive experience when using our registration services, no matter their gender identity.

In November 2026, we hosted an online focus group aimed at making our registration services more inclusive. 16 people took part, reviewing the information that was available on our website pages and sharing their insights, views and experiences.

You said:

• There wasn’t enough information about how the laws affect intersex people.
• It is confusing that the rules for registration services can differ between countries within the United Kingdom.
• It would be helpful to have all the information for trans and gender non-conforming people in one place.
• That some of the language we used could be more inclusive
• You appreciated that non-binary people were talked about in our information, as well as trans people.
• That you appreciated that we are trying to make our services more inclusive, but that it was frustrating that the law doesn't provide much flexibility for trans and gender non-conforming people.

We did:

• We added a section about intersex people to our Registering a birth webpage.
• We have made it clearer that the laws for England and Wales are the only ones that apply to registration services in Oxfordshire.
• We included all the updated information on our Gender recognition webpage, so that it can all be found in one place.
• Our information about marriages and civil partnerships now uses the terms “mixed gender” and “same gender”.
• We have added more information about how the laws affect non-binary people, in places where this wasn’t clear before.
• We appreciate the frustrations that some of you feel about the laws, and hope that by providing clear information and the option to contact us for further clarification we can help trans and gender non-conforming people navigate the laws with confidence.

Your feedback has helped to shape a more inclusive and welcoming service for all. A full list of the updated webpages is below:

Registering a birth
Registering a death
Legal formalities for marriage or civil partnership
Civil ceremonies – your day, your way

Vows, readings and music for your wedding
Gender recognition