The EEOC Adds a New Gender – X – to Its Charge Process

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Following the release of its Equity Action Plan (as discussed in our April 2022 E-Update), in which the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission asserted that it would update its charge-related forms related to gender self-identification, it has now announced the addition of a non-binary gender option: X.

Employees who believe they have been subjected to illegal discrimination or harassment may file a Charge of Discrimination with the EEOC. As part of the charge intake process, employees self-identify as to gender, as well as other protected characteristics. Until now, the gender options were limited to male or female. According to its press release, by instituting this change, the EEOC is “promoting greater inclusion for members of the LGBTQI+ community.” (“I” stands for intersex, meaning that a person has both male and female sex characteristics).