Gender selection on documents
Howdy fellas, I’m wondering if I can get some other opinions and perspectives on something.
I’ve started a volunteer role recently that required a bunch of paperwork, including a background check and fingerprinting. The last time I did that sort of thing, I was early enough in transition that I didn’t pass, and my documents all still said “F” for gender. So back then, I checked the box for “female” on the forms. This time, I am far enough along in my journey that I pass most of the time. My IDs and paperwork have a mix of F, X, and M. So when I went to do my background check and fingerprints this time, I selected the box for “male” on all the forms. It worked just fine, including the FBI level background check.
So this got me wondering: at what point should I stop marking “female” on forms? Should I be making a judgement call about whether it is important for the receiving person/group to know my gender history? How do you all navigate that kind of thing?
My own answer, for now: I chose male in this case because the volunteer role matches me with someone needing assistance based on shared demographics and interests. If it were something else, like something medical, I might still check “female” and write across the top of the form above the header, “transmasculine, he/him.” I would definitely do that at the gynecologist. I also wouldn’t judge anyone who does it different from me.