In a move that has sparked a national conversation, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has redefined important biological terminology, such as “sex,” “man,” and “woman.”
President Donald Trump recently issued an executive order to enforce a rigid male-female binary, which is consistent with the revised definitions that were released on Wednesday.
The changes, according to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., restore “biological truth” and combat “gender ideology extremism.” Legal and medical professionals caution that these definitions ignore accepted research and may have practical repercussions, especially for transgender and intersex people.
Georgetown University professor of health law Michele Bratcher Goodwin was critical of the action, calling it “ignoring the complexity of human biology” and potentially limiting medical research and patient care.
The definitions eliminate any mention of gender identity, opposing earlier federal guidance that identified gender as a spectrum. LGBTQ+ advocacy groups claim this change will marginalize transgender and intersex individuals, stripping them of their legal protections.
“Intersex individuals have been around for thousands of years,” said Lambda Legal’s Dr. Omar Gonzalez. “Denying they exist is not policy—it’s denial.”
Legal skirmishes are already taking place. Civil rights organizations are pushing back on the definitions, saying they will be used to discriminate against healthcare policies.
In the meantime, experts say medical professionals and lawmakers should fight efforts that constrict recognition and rights for diverse gender identities.
