WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥� Individuals will be allowed to make sure that their records with the Social Security Administration align with their gender identity under a plan announced Wednesday.
The action, which is part of the agency鈥檚 鈥淓quity Action Plan,鈥� follows through on a March announcement to do so by the agency's acting commissioner Kilolo Kijakazi.
Kijakazi said the move is part of 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.鈥� It's also part of a larger Biden administration-wide effort to increase acceptance of gender identity.
In June, President Joe Biden signed an meant to take steps to advance LGBTQ equality, including 鈥渟trengthening supports and protections for transgender Americans.鈥�
At Social Security, the agency will accept the applicant鈥檚 self-identified gender identity of either male or female, even if it is different from the designation shown on identity documents, such as a passport or state-issued driver鈥檚 license or identity card.
The agency says it is exploring possible future policy and systems updates to support an 鈥淴鈥� designation for the SSN card application process for people who don't identify as male or female.
In June 2021, the State Department started implementing to allow applicants to self-select their gender, including an 鈥淴," and no longer required medical certification if an applicant鈥檚 self-selected gender does not match the gender on their other citizenship or identity documents.
The Department of Homeland Security has reformed its screening process at U.S. airports for transgender travelers and the Department of Housing and Urban Development has implemented protections for homeless transgender people who seek emergency shelter access consistent with their gender identity.
Fatima Hussein, The Associated Press
