University of California Gives Students Six Gender Identity Categories

The University of California admissions department has updated its applications to reflect alternative genders. However, the school has not simply added “transgender” or a third option. Instead, it has added six gender identity categories.

Students will now be able to select one of the following:

1. male
2. female
3. trans male/trans male
4. trans female/trans woman
5. gender queer/gender non-conforming
6. “different identity” to describe their “gender identity.”

A site at the University of Wisconsin defines the fifth option in the following way:

Genderqueer: An umbrella term for people whose gender identity is outside of, not included within, or beyond the binary of female and male;
Gender non-conformity through expression, behavior, social roles, and/or identity; See also Fluid, Non-Binary.

A question about sexual orientation features three possible responses: “heterosexual or straight,” “gay or lesbian” or fill-in-the-blank.

The changes are the result of a council assembled by UC President Janet Napolitano formed a council to advise her on LGBT issues in 2014. The expansion of options is likely to spread quickly across the country.