The Biden administration has sparked controversy with its new change to US immigration applications, which includes a third gender option on the form.
Previously, the form simply included male and female alternatives. However, the new application, which is currently available on the website of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), allows “another gender identity” in addition to male and female. “The X gender option is currently unavailable on any other forms.”
The agency underlined that this move is consistent with its commitment to inclusion, which seeks to reduce barriers to getting immigration benefits.
“USCIS is introducing a third gender option, “X,” defined as “Another Gender Identity”. Today we published a new edition of Form N-400, the first form to include the X gender option. This option will become available on additional forms as we revise them,” the agency posted
“The current priority of U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services isn’t to fix the mass illegal immigration crisis. It’s to introduce “a third gender option” on their forms. Can’t make this stuff up. Vivek Ramaswamy posted on X.
“Not, this is not an April Fool’s Day Joke. This is real. Our country is a trainwreck!’ wrote an X User. ‘Is this an April Fools tweet?’, asked End Wokeness, a right-wing account with over 2.4 million followers.
This debate follows President Joe Biden’s social media tweets commemorating Transgender Day of Visibility, which coincided with Easter this year. Biden’s message, “Today, on Transgender Day of Visibility, I have a simple message for all trans-Americans: I see you. You are created in the image of God, and you are worthy of respect and dignity,” drew sharp criticism from conservative figures.
Republicans condemned the post as disrespectful, while former President Donald Trump’s national press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, called it “appalling and insulting,” and accused Biden of launching an “assault on the Christian faith.”
Despite Trump’s MAGA supporters using the Biden government’s pro-trans and pro-immigrant stance as an election narrative leading up to 2024, Biden has remained a steadfast champion of LGBTQ+ rights throughout his presidency.