Recognition (USA): Difference between revisions

It is estimated that there are over 450,000 [[nonbinary]] individuals in the United States of America<ref name="Hendrick">{{Cite web |title=“M,” “F,” Or “X”? Nonbinary Gender Designations In The Workplace |author=Hendrick et al. |work=Fisher Phillips |date=1 January 2018 |access-date=19 June 2020 |url= https://www.fisherphillips.com/resources-newsletters-article-m-f-or-x-nonbinary-gender-designations}}</ref>, although totally accurate numbers are difficult to ascertain.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Micro Interactions, Macro Harms: Some Thoughts on Improving Health Care for Transgender and Gender Nonbinary Folks|journal=International Journal of Feminist Approaches to Bioethics|last=Freeman|first=Lauren|year=2018|doi=10.3138/ijfab.2018.05.29}}</ref> This article gives information on [[recognition]] of nonbinary gender identities in law, government, services, and businesses in the USA. This also deals with policies about [[transgender]] people in general, and related policies about [[intersex]] people. Recognition here means whether an organization acknowledges that such people exist and have valid identities, and the organization does this by routinely giving them a place where they aren't forced into being wrongly categorized as a [[gender]] that doesn't match their [[gender identity]]. In the case of recognition of nonbinary people, this means the system doesn't force them to wrongly say they are one of the [[binary gender]]s ([[female]] or [[male]]).

As of 2019, United Airlines passengers "now have the ability to identify themselves as M(male), F(female), U(undisclosed) or X(unspecified), corresponding with what is indicated on their passports or identification."<ref name="Chen2019">{{Cite web |title=United Airlines Announced It Will Be The First Airline To Offer Nonbinary Gender Options For Customers To Book Flights |last=Chen |first=Tanya |work=BuzzFeed News |date=22 March 2019 |access-date=3 October 2020 |url= https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/tanyachen/united-airlines-transgender-non-binary-gender}}</ref>

| "True Name" initiative enables customers to have their chosen name on the their cards<ref name="Mastercard">{{Cite web |title=Mastercard’s ‘True Name’ supports transgender and non-binary consumers |author= |work=WARC |date=11 June 2020 |access-date=21 June 2020 |url= https://www.warc.com/newsandopinion/news/mastercards-true-name-supports-transgender-and-non-binary-consumers/43710}}</ref><ref name="BMOH">https://www.bmoharris.com/main/personal/true-name/</ref>

| style="background-color:#ffb;"| Requires proof of surgery to change sex designation.<ref name="LambdaBirth">http://www.lambdalegal.org/know-your-rights/transgender/changing-birth-certificate-sex-designations</ref>

| style="background-color:#f99;"| M or F only<ref name="IGRPresources">"Resources." ''Intersex and Genderqueer Recognition Project.'' Updated 2019-06-23. Retrieved 2019-07-08. https://www.intersexrecognition.org/resources</ref>

| style="background-color:#9ff;"| M, F, or X<ref>Kate Sosin and Nico Lang. "Arkansas — Yes, Arkansas — Quietly Begins Issuing Gender-Neutral IDs to Non-Binary People." ''Into.'' 2018-10-16. Retrieved 2019-07-08. https://www.intomore.com/impact/arkansas-yes-arkansas-quietly-begins-issuing-gender-neutral-ids-to-non-binary-people</ref>

| style="background-color:#9ff;"| The first state to allow a third option, "nonbinary," on birth certificates, starting when [[Gender Recognition Act (California Senate Bill 179)|SB 179, or the Gender Recognition Act]], was signed into law on October 15, 2017.<ref name="CA-NBC">John Paul Brammer. ''NBC News.'' 2017-10-23. Retrieved 2019-07-08. https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/california-paves-way-nonbinary-birth-certificates-n813436</ref>

| style="background-color:#9f9;"| Allows change without a hearing upon request.<ref>https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201720180SB179</ref><ref>https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/jtes/california-just-got-one-step-closer-to-nonbinary-ids</ref>

| style="background-color:#f99;"| M or F only, with one exception where a birth certificate was changed to say "[[Intersex]]"<ref name="anunnaki">{{Cite web |title=I am Proudly the First in Colorado to get an Intersex Birth Certificate |author=Mx. Anunnaki Ray Marquez |work= |date=September 20, 2018 |access-date=November 14, 2020 |url= https://anunnakiray.com/2018/09/20/i-am-proudly-the-first-in-colorado-to-get-an-intersex-birth-certificate/}}</ref>

| style="background-color:#9ff;"| M, F, or X<ref name="Milton2020">{{Cite web |title=Non-binary people win vital legal recognition as Maine becomes 12th state to issue ‘X’ gender birth certificates |last=Milton |first=Josh |work=PinkNews |date=20 July 2020 |access-date=23 July 2020 |url= https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2020/07/20/maine-non-binary-birth-certificates-x-legal-recognition/}}</ref>

| style="background-color:#9ff;"| Requires an "individual notarized affirmation that the change is made to align the record with their gender identity." Name on birth certificate can only be changed at the same time as the gender marker change.<ref name="maine">{{Cite web |title=Gender Marker Change on Birth Certificates: Frequently Asked Questions |work=maine.gov |date= |access-date=23 July 2020 |url= https://www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/public-health-systems/data-research/vital-records/documents/pdf-files/QA%20for%20gender%20marker.pdf}}</ref>

| style="background-color:#9ff;"| M, F, or undesignated/nonbinary. The latter became available on February 1, 2019, making this the 6th state to offer nonbinary birth certificates.<ref name="PinkNewsNJ">https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2019/01/30/new-jersey-gender-neutral-birth-certificates/</ref>

| style="background-color:#ffb;"| M or F only, with only one case to the exception: an adult intersex person won a lawsuit to change their birth certificate to say "[[hermaphrodite]]."<ref name="Litigation">{{cite web|title=Litigation|website=Intersex & Genderqueer Recognition Project|url=http://www.intersexrecognition.org/litigation.html |archive-date=11 July 2017 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170711102713/http://www.intersexrecognition.org/litigation.html</ref> As of November 2021, a nonbinary option had been offered briefly but is is in legal dispute.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Oklahoma Gov. Stitt Signs Order Halting The State From Issuing Nonbinary Birth Certificates |last=Leesman |first=Madeline |work=Townhall |date=12 November 2021 |access-date=18 November 2021 |url= https://townhall.com/tipsheet/madelineleesman/2021/11/12/oklahoma-gov-stitt-signs-order-halting-the-state-from-issuing-nonbinary-birth-ce-n2598993}}</ref>

| style="background-color:#ffb;"| M or F, with one exception where a birth certificate was changed to say "[[Nonbinary]]"<ref name="OHaraShupe">{{Cite web |title='Nonbinary' is now a legal gender, Oregon court rules |last=O'Hara |first=Mary Emily |work=The Daily Dot |date=10 June 2016 |access-date=14 November 2020 |url= https://www.dailydot.com/irl/oregon-court-rules-non-binary-gender-legal/}}</ref>

| style="background-color:#9ff;"| M or F or X since July 1, 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gazettejournal.net/new-virginia-dmv-laws-now-in-effect/|title=New Virginia DMV laws now in effect – Gazette Journal|language=en-US|access-date=2020-09-09}}</ref>  

| style="background-color:#9ff"| Allows people to change sex designation, requiring only a letter from a Gender Designation Change Request signed by a physician, psychiatrist, nurse practitioner, clinical social worker, psychologist, or professional counselor, certifying the applicant's gender identity. <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://transequality.org/documents/state/virginia|title=Virginia|website=National Center for Transgender Equality|language=en|access-date=2020-09-09}}</ref>

| style="background-color:#9ff;"| M, F, or X, since January 27, 2018, per rule WAC 246-490-075.<ref name="WA-state-birth">"Sex Designation Change on a Birth Certificate." ''Washington State Department of Health.'' Retrieved 2019-07-08. https://www.doh.wa.gov/LicensesPermitsandCertificates/BirthDeathMarriageandDivorce/SexDesignationChangeonaBirthCertificate</ref>  

In the USA, driver's licenses in most states can show an M or F only, with the limitations described above that apply to all official documents. As with birth certificates, the gender marker on driver's licenses is called "sex" instead of "gender." All U.S. states allow the gender marker to be changed on a driver's license,<ref>"Driver's License Policies by State." National Center for Transgender Equality. Accessed June 20, 2012. http://transequality.org/Resources/DL/DL_policies.html</ref> although the requirements for doing so vary by state. Often, the requirements for changing one's driver's license are less stringent than those for changing the marker on the birth certificate. This can create conflicts between documents, because sometimes a person is allowed to change their marker on one document, but not the other.

| style="background-color:#9ff;"| Since November 30, 2018, drivers licenses and ID cards can have an M, F, or X marker.<ref name="colo_Colo">{{Cite web |title=Colorado to offer non-binary sex identifier on driver licenses and IDs |author= |work=Department of Revenue - Motor Vehicle |date= |access-date=3 August 2020 |url= https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/dmv/colorado-offer-non-binary-sex-identifier-driver-licenses-and-ids}}</ref>

| style="background-color:#9ff;"| M, F, or X (X available since June 2017)<ref name="gove_HowG">{{Cite web |title=How Governments Are Transitioning Their Gender Policies to Nonbinary |last=Norwood |first=Candice |work=governing.com |date=June 2019 |access-date=14 April 2020 |url= https://www.governing.com/topics/health-human-services/gov-nonbinary-lgbtq-legislation-regulations.html}}</ref>

| style="background-color:#9ff;"| M, F, or X since July 1, 2020.<ref>https://transequality.org/documents/state/hawaii</ref>

|style="background-color:#9ff;"|"M", "F", or "X" available since 2019.<ref name="IndianaDL">{{Cite web |title=Indiana becomes the 6th state to offer a new gender option on driver's licenses |author=Hwang, Kelley |work=The Indianapolis Star |date=March 12, 2019 |access-date=November 11, 2020 |url= https://www.indystar.com/story/news/2019/03/12/indiana-drivers-licenses-now-have-x-gender-option/3138447002/}}</ref>

|Must visit the Bureau of Motor Vehicles with supporting documentation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.in.gov/bmv/licenses-permits-ids/learners-permits-and-drivers-licenses-overview/drivers-license/amending-your-drivers-license-or-identification-card/|title=Amending Your Driver’s License or Identification Card|last=Licenses|first=Permits|date=2020-07-01|website=Licenses, Permits, & IDs|language=en|access-date=2020-11-11}}</ref>

| style="background-color:#9ff;"|X marker available since June 2018.<ref name="maineDL">{{Cite web |title=Maine BMV to offer non-binary gender designation on driver’s licenses, ID cards |author= |work=maine.gov |date=June 11, 2018 |access-date=November 11, 2020 |url= https://www.maine.gov/sos/news/2018/genderdesignationdlid.html}}</ref>

| style="background-color:#9ff;"| M, F, or X options since November 2019.<ref name="Vaughn">{{Cite web |title=The RMV Officially Recognizes a Non-Binary Gender Option Now |last=Vaughn |first=Alyssa |work=Boston Magazine |date=13 November 2019 |access-date=5 June 2020 |url= https://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/2019/11/13/massachusetts-rmv-gender-neutral-drivers-licenses/}}</ref>

| style="background-color:#9ff;"| M, F, or X options since November 10, 2021.<ref name="Powers-Michigan">{{Cite web |title=Nonbinary Designation Added For Michigan Driver's Licenses |last=Powers |first=Sara |work=CBS Detroit |date=3 November 2021 |access-date=4 November 2021 |url= https://detroit.cbslocal.com/2021/11/03/nonbinary-designation-added-for-michigan-drivers-licenses/}}</ref>

| style="background-color:#9ff;"| X marker available since late 2018.<ref name="MinnesotaDL">{{Cite web |title='X' is new gender choice on Minnesota driver's licenses |last=Nelson |first=Tim |work=MPR News |date=October 2, 2018 |access-date=November 11, 2020 |url= https://www.mprnews.org/story/2018/10/02/real-id-minnesota-licenses-new-gender-choice-x}}</ref>

| style="background-color:#9ff;"| M, F, or X options since January 1, 2020.<ref name="Feely">{{Cite web |title=Bill allowing 'X' to mark gender on NH licenses becomes law |last=Feely |first=Paul |work=New Hampshire Union Leader |date=July 11, 2019 |access-date=October 30, 2020 |url= https://www.unionleader.com/news/safety/bill-allowing-x-to-mark-gender-on-nh-licenses-becomes-law/article_054ba80d-0066-53cf-a7e9-98118d2ac907.html}}</ref>

| style="background-color:#9ff;"| M, F, or X. X became available in April 2021.<ref name="Sobko">{{Cite web |title=New Jersey adds 'X' as gender option on MVC driver's licenses |last=Sobko |first=Katie |work=North Jersey Media Group |date=April 19, 2021 |access-date=April 19, 2021 |url= https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/transportation/2021/04/19/nj-drivers-license-gender-options-now-include-x-nonbinary/7286526002/}}</ref>

| style="background-color:#9ff;"| "X" gender designation available since July 2020.<ref name="Limberg">{{Cite web |title=PA Now Offering Nonbinary Option for Driver License and IDs |last=Limberg |first=Andrew |work=1010 WINS |date=23 July 2020 |access-date=23 July 2020 |url= https://1010wins.radio.com/articles/radiocom/pa-now-offering-non-binary-option-for-driver-licenseid}}</ref>

|Fill out a form and bring it to DMV in person. No medical or social service documentation is needed.<ref name="dmvPA">{{Cite web |title=Gender-Neutral Designation |author= |work=PennDOT Driver & Vehicle Services |date= |access-date=23 July 2020 |url= https://www.dmv.pa.gov/Driver-Services/Driver-Licensing/Pages/Gender-Neutral-Designation.aspx}}</ref>

| style="background-color:#9ff;"| M, F, or X.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dol.wa.gov/forms/520043.pdf|title=Change of Gender Designation|publisher=Washington State Department of Licensing}}</ref>

In the USA, passports show an M or F only, with the limitations described above that apply to all official documents. The State Department determines what identifying biographical information is placed on passports. In 2010, they began to allow permanent gender marker changes to be made with a letter from a doctor saying that "the applicant has had appropriate clinical treatment for gender transition to the new gender,"<ref>"FAM 1300 APPENDIX M - GENDER CHANGE." United States Department of State. June 10, 2010. Accessed October 14, 2010. http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/143160.pdf</ref> and no longer requires proof of surgery.<ref>"FAM 1300 APPENDIX F - PASSPORT AMENDMENTS." United States Department of State. March 18, 2009. Accessed May 7, 2009. http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/86784.pdf</ref>

Marriage certificates at the City of Cambridge in Massachusetts ask for binary sex, but by special permission, this can be left blank, so the marriage certificate has no gender on it.<ref>http://practicalandrogyny.tumblr.com/post/7025100121/gender-free-marriage-certificate-from-cambridge</ref>

Many kinds of health insurance don't cover transgender-related healthcare (meaning [[hormone therapy]] and [[surgery]]). However, in some states, insurance is required by law to cover it:<ref>http://nonbinary-support.tumblr.com/post/113431196413/states-where-it-is-the-law-for-insurance-to-cover</ref>

The American Red Cross Blood Services does not ban transgender or nonbinary people from donating blood/platelets/etc, and they recognize the existence of various nonbinary genders. However, donors must self-identify themselves as either male or female; this is required by the FDA.<ref name="redcross">{{Cite web |title=LGBTQ+ Donors |author= |work=redcrossblood.org |date= |access-date=6 June 2020 |url= https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/how-to-donate/eligibility-requirements/lgbtq-donors.html}}</ref>