The Social Security Administration will allow people to self-choose their sexual identities on their records.
People who identify as transgender or gender diverse are now allowed to self-select which sexes they wish to identify with. The Social Security Number system does not currently allow an “X” designation for people who identify as non-binary or wish to keep their sexes undesignated, but officials said they are working to update the system.
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“The Social Security Administration’s Equity Action Plan includes a commitment to decrease administrative burdens and ensure people who identify as gender diverse or transgender have options in the Social Security Number card application process,” Acting Commissioner Kilolo Kijakazi said in a release. “This new policy allows people to self-select their sex in our records without needing to provide documentation of their sex designation.”
Those who wish to update their records with their preferred sexes will need to apply for new SSN cards. While they will still need to provide current documentation as proof of identity, people no longer need medical or legal documentation of their sex designations, per the release.
Sex designation on an SSN can be different from the sex designation on other legal identification documents, such as a current driver’s license or identity card.
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The Social Security Administration is one of many federal agencies that have made adjustments to their sex designation policies. The U.S. State Department announced in March that they would allow people to select their genders on their U.S. passports and provide an “X” designation for those who do not wish to enter male or female as their sex. In late 2023, that will extend to expedited or urgent travel services.
On March 31, International Transgender Day of Visibility, the Department of Homeland Security announced several policy changes allowing increased gender identity designations on several official documents. Beginning in April, the Transportation Security Administration will allow “X” gender markers for those entering TSA pre-check.
