This is something I've been noticing in strange ways lately. Until last year I lived in the SF Bay area and before that Seattle, large and liberal, all forms I ever encountered were M-F and I just would check the (inappropriate) F box to not deal with it. Then last year I moved to Idaho. The first medical form I encountered here had a half page at the top first form asking about gendering and preferred pronouns, names, etc. Could have knocked me over with a feather and I filled it out correctly. This was a chain, Planned Parenthood, where I get progesterone to halt cycles. Of course I was their first apparently, and I am now their mascot I think, lol. They are over the top nice to me and it is my first positive medical experience ever. I have decided to quit using the gender box on any form without something appropriate and have had zero issue with leaving them blank except of course the rather confused look on peoples faces who call out to me in waiting rooms with my male name and hybrid appearance. *snicker*
I have found another industry, total surprise to me, that is stepping up their game, and that is finance. I am dealing with changing my portfolios and having to initiate new accounts and all the fun documentation that goes with it. My primary firm this time is Vanguard and I have noticed that on all online forms the gender field is "Male, Female, or Undisclosed" (I choose undisclosed) On the paper hard signature forms requiring medallion stamps and such, the field reads "Male, Female" but the field is clearly marked as "Optional" (I leave it blank). This is a huge relief to me as it will make official document changes much easier in the future should I decide to go that route.
When speaking to my advisor on video, I think it's obvious to him why I'm undisclosed, but when speaking to an asset transfer manager on the phone only we did a line by line breakout on one of the paper forms and he took the time to explain the gender field as a vocal confirmation that they use to confirm the identity of who they are speaking to, but it is still totally optional. I leave it blank but thought the explanation was reasonable as a security measure, I just answer an additional security question instead when I call in.
Now if we could just get the first line phone answerers to quit Sir-ing and Ma'am-ing everyone....one step at a time.
