New HHS Guidelines Define Biological Sex, Stripping Recognition of Transgender Identity

One of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s first actions as secretary of Health and Human Services was to redefine the definition of sex following an executive order by President Donald Trump.

The new definitions say biological sex characteristics are binary and fail to recognize transgenderism.

"This administration is bringing back common sense and restoring biological truth to the federal government," said Kennedy. "The prior administration's policy of trying to engineer gender ideology into every aspect of public life is over."

The new HHS guidelines define sex as a person's immutable biological classification as either male or female, with females characterized by a reproductive system that produces eggs and males by one that produces sperm.

GLAAD, an organization that advocates for LGBTQ+ rights, has criticized the Trump administration's transgender policies, saying they inaccurately claim there are only two sexes and have failed to acknowledge the existence of intersex people.

"This administration's latest inaccurate and incoherent piece of paper smears an entire group of Americans but does not change the law or the facts. All women and girls, including transgender women and girls, should be welcome to play sports if they want, make decisions about their own bodies, be hired for jobs they are qualified for, and be free from attacks by extremists in elected office," GLAAD said.

GLAAD notes that there are differences between being intersex and transgender, and emphasizes that the administration's orders have failed to acknowledge the impact on intersex people.