Government Entities Are Expanding Gender Options To Include (X) as a Gender Identifier

 As part of the celebration of Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV), the Biden administration announced new actions on March 31, 2022, to "remove barriers that transgender people face accessing critical government services," including at the Social Security Administration (SSA), the Department of State, and the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

Government Entities Are Expanding Gender Options To Include (X) as a gender identifier

"To everyone celebrating Transgender Day of Visibility, I want you to know that your President sees you," Biden said in a proclamation recognizing TDOV, adding that "so many transgender, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming Americans... serve proudly and openly in our military; get elected and make policy at every level of government; and run businesses, cure diseases, and serve our communities in countless other ways."

More than a dozen initiatives were announced on March 31 to enhance transgender travel experiences, provide resources for transgender children and their families, increase access to government services, and advance inclusion and visibility in federal statistics.

• The Biden administration announced barrier-removing initiatives at many government departments on March 31 as part of Transgender Day of Visibility.
• Allowing people to self-select their gender in Social Security records is one of the actions.
• The Department of State will allow passport applicants to choose a gender identifier of their choice (X).
• For discrimination cases, the EEOC will also accept the designation of a non-binary "X" gender marker.
• The Department of Homeland Security has proposed improvements aimed at improving the visitor experience.
• Additional services and reforms are being implemented to better the lives of transgender Americans.

Administration for Social Security (SSA)

Beginning in the fall of 2022, persons will be able to pick (self-select) their sex in their Social Security number (SSN) record. In addition, the agency will no longer need transgender persons to present evidence of identification, such as doctor's notes, in order to amend their gender status in their social security records. The administration believes that this will considerably enhance transgender people's experiences with accessing retirement benefits, receiving health care, and searching for jobs.

State Department

The Department of State stated in June 2021 that passport applicants will be able to self-select their gender without submitting medical verification. Citizens of the United States will be permitted to pick "X" as their gender marker on U.S. passport applications beginning April 11, 2022. Next year, the same option will be offered for additional types of paperwork.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission of the United States (EEOC)

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) of the United States intends to promote greater equity and inclusion for members of the LGBTQI+ community by allowing individuals to choose a nonbinary "X" gender marker during the voluntary self-identification question process that is part of filing a discrimination complaint. The EEOC announced the modification in a news statement, saying, "The EEOC will include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) suggestion for how to define "X" in a way that promotes clarity and inclusivity, as well as individual safety and privacy."

Homeland Security Department

The Department of Homeland Security has announced various improvements aimed at improving transgender Americans' travel experiences:

• The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will provide upgraded non-gender-based body scanners with new technology that minimizes false alert rates and passenger pat-downs. Later this year, the TSA will begin using this new equipment in airports around the country.
• TSA will also collaborate with airlines to promote and accept the "X" gender identifier for quick and accurate passenger processing.
• The TSA's Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) are being revised to exclude gender considerations when certifying identification at airport security checkpoints.

Changes And Additional Resources

Other important new resources and adjustments to the federal government's approach to transgender problems include:

• Additional mental health resources for transgender children and their families
• Transgender Americans now have easier access to government services and benefits thanks to the U.S. Digital Service.
• Greater equality in filing a complaint of job discrimination
• FAFSA (Free Application for Government Student Aid) enhancements for transgender students Improved access to the White House for transgender, gender non-conforming, and non-binary guests Improved exposure to federal data