WA State Non-Binary Gender Marker Change – impact on federal documents?

[Anonymous]

Hello TransFamilies,

We could use some help.  Our almost 10yo who was assigned male at birth but identifies as non-binary wants to legally change their name and also amend the gender marker on their birth certificate to “X.” The Gender Clinic at Seattle Children’s Hospital sent us links on how to change their name and gender marker, but we want to understand more about the potential federal implications, specifically of having an “X” designation on your birth certificate.

We recently read about a court ordering the state department to issue a passport with a gender marker of “X,” instead of “F” or “M,” for a non-binary person who is also Intersex, but as this is not currently standard practice, we’re wondering what happens when we:

• go to renew our child’s passport with their chosen name?
• try to update their social security card?
• Change their health insurance?
• Update their SPS school records?
• Try to buy airline tickets?

Will we have to use “M” or is there some other accommodation?  Does anyone have experience with and or advice about how to proceed? We are 100% supportive of our child making these changes, we are just nervous about doing things in the wrong order and/or possibly creating future legal problems given a hostile federal government.

Thanks for your insights,

Graham & Sarah

[Author]

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