San Francisco expands official recognition of gender identities

San Francisco Mayor London Breed on Thursday issued an executive directive to expand gender identities on all city forms and applications when asked for demographic information and calls for training for city employees on gender identity.

The directive will allow people to broadly choose their own identity when filling out city forms besides the more traditional male or female option.

Breed said in a statement:

“Here in San Francisco, we stand in strong support of our transgender and gender non-conforming residents. This Executive Directive is about celebrating the diversity of our communities and building a more inclusive City for all.”

The mayor is taking these steps after a report from the New York Times said that President Donald Trump’s administration is considering to limit the definition of gender identities.

Clair Farley, director of the Office of Transgender Initiatives, said in a statement:

“It is in San Francisco’s best interest that transgender and gender non-binary community contributions are recognized and that everyone has the opportunity to live full and healthy lives. We hope that this directive will inspire cities and states across the country to take a stand against these hateful attacks on our communities.”

The Mayor’s Office said that six city departments have already expended the definition of gender identities, including the Department of Public Health, Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Aging and Adult Services, the Department of Children, Youth and their Families and the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing.

Breed’s directive will now expand across all city departments.

Departments will be able to use up its old forms, but any new printing of forms will have to meet the mayor’s directive.

Jerold Chinn

Jerold serves as a reporter and San Francisco Bureau Chief for SFBay covering transportation and occasionally City Hall and the Mayor's Office in San Francisco. His work on transportation has been recognized by the San Francisco Press Club. Born and raised in San Francisco, he graduated from San Francisco State University with a degree in journalism. Jerold previously wrote for the San Francisco Public Press, a nonprofit, noncommercial news organization. When not reporting, you can find Jerold taking Muni to check out new places to eat in the city.