Navy stops asking personnel about gender identity, makes ‘intimate spaces’ either male or female

The U.S. Navy has announced a significant shift in its policies regarding gender identity and biological sex, as reported by the military news organization Stars and Stripes. According to a memo dated earlier this week, the Navy will no longer inquire about a service member’s gender identity on official forms. Instead, the focus will solely be on biological sex in all relevant contexts, including the designation of single-sex spaces such as bathrooms and living quarters on ships and bases. This change aligns with a broader executive order signed by President Donald Trump, titled "Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government." The memo explicitly states that the U.S. government recognizes only two sexes, male and female, which it describes as "not interchangeable."

The updated guidance defines biological sex as the determining factor for policies related to single-sex spaces, which are referred to as "intimate spaces." These include shared living quarters, bathrooms, and other private areas where privacy is a concern. The Navy’s decision follows similar moves by the Air Force and Army, which have already issued their own guidance on eliminating gender identity policies to comply with President Trump’s executive order. This shift marks a departure from previous policies that acknowledged gender identity in military procedures. The changes are part of a federal effort to redefine how gender is addressed across government agencies, with a particular emphasis on biological definitions.

President Trump’s executive order, signed last month, has sparked widespread debate. It asserts that there are only two sexes, male and female, and defines them based on reproductive biology. According to the order, a male is "a person of the sex characterized by a reproductive system with the biological function of producing sperm," while a female is "a person of the sex characterized by a reproductive system with the biological function of producing eggs (ova)." The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has been tasked with promoting policies that reflect these definitions, with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stating that the administration is "bringing back common sense and restoring biological truth to the federal government." He also criticized the previous administration’s efforts to incorporate gender ideology into public policy, calling it "over."

The implications of these changes are significant, particularly for transgender service members. As of 2018, an estimated 14,700 U.S. military personnel identified as transgender, according to a study by the Palm Center cited by NPR. A 2021 military survey from the Office of People Analytics found that about 1.7% of service members identified as transgender or had a gender identity that differed from their sex at birth. These individuals may face new challenges under the updated policies, which could affect their access to single-sex spaces and their overall experience in the military. The Navy, however, did not immediately provide a comment when contacted by Fox News Digital, leaving some questions about how the policy will be implemented and how it will impact transgender personnel.

The Trump administration’s gender-related policies, including this executive order and others like banning biological men from women’s sports and restricting transgender individuals from military service, have been met with legal challenges. Progressive and LGBT advocacy groups have filed lawsuits arguing that these policies violate civil rights protections for transgender individuals. Critics argue that the changes are discriminatory and undermine the progress made toward inclusivity in the military. Supporters, on the other hand, frame the policies as a return to "common sense" and a necessary step to preserve biological distinctions in areas like sports and the military.

The debate over gender identity and biological sex in the military reflects a broader cultural and political divide in the U.S. While the Trump administration asserts that its policies are rooted in scientific and biological truths, opponents argue that they ignore the complexities of gender identity and the rights of transgender individuals. As the Navy and other branches of the military move to implement these changes, the impact on service members and the future of gender policies in the federal government remain uncertain. For now, the focus is on how these policies will be enforced and how they will affect the lives of those serving in the armed forces.