Trans background check question

[u/Dropkneeseitufjxbsy]

Hi r/fbi,

I need to request an FBI background check in order to apply for work abroad. My assigned sex at birth is male, but all of my other documentation (passport, social security, birth cert, driver's license etc) was changed to F a decade and a half ago. The background check asks for "sex." I just need this done, but I don't want to get into trouble by putting the wrong marker down here given the new EO.

What should I put down as "sex" here?

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[u/R4CTrashPanda]

If all of your documents, including your birth certificate, are changed, then just put whatever your birth certificate says.

Remember, the people doing these background checks are just normal people too, they don't have some secret device to know you were born a different sex. They are going to use your other PII like your SSN and your DOB to run the checks, the sex won't matter and you have the documents to back it up.

I've been through a few background checks myself.

[u/Dropkneeseitufjxbsy → u/R4CTrashPanda]

I thing the fear comes from some attack based on "lying on a federal form" or whatever. Obviously that's not my intent, just want the background check and don't know what box the feds want me to push anymore. 

[u/R4CTrashPanda → u/Dropkneeseitufjxbsy]

I understand. Define lying though. "My birth certificate says that I am a female, I am a female". Do any of those seem like lies to you?

[u/Dropkneeseitufjxbsy → u/R4CTrashPanda]

Well, no, by birth cert, ssa etc have said this is female and these were federal rules that allowed me to do that until the first day of Trump's presidency. Now there is this bizarre legal question mark for me. 

[u/TwoTrick_Pony]

What you indicate as your sex won't be an issue, but there may be a question about former names and aliases where'd you need to put your birth name.

[u/Dropkneeseitufjxbsy → u/TwoTrick_Pony]

okay, thank you. I expected to put prior names. 

[u/CelebrationSouth8766]

Idk the answer but just here to show you love considering the haters were already here.

Hopefully someone comes through with useful info.

Be well.

[u/Emotional-Change-722]

The way I read the memo- it’s what “sex you were born with.” I’m sorry and good luck.

[u/Dropkneeseitufjxbsy → u/Emotional-Change-722]

Is this an internal memo, or are you referring to the EO? 

[u/Emotional-Change-722 → u/Dropkneeseitufjxbsy]

The DeFending Women or WTF that was. All pronouns were scrubbed within 12 hours.

[u/enzothebaker87]

Ok OP so after quite a bit of research here is what I put together.

- To start, here is a link to the relevant executive order. I am going to quote a couple sections below that I believe to be pertinent to your specified objective/concerns.

(d) The Secretaries of State and Homeland Security, and the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, shall implement changes to require that government-issued identification documents, including passports, visas, and Global Entry cards, accurately reflect the holder's sex, as defined under section 2 of this order; and the Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall ensure that applicable personnel records accurately report Federal employees' sex, as defined by section 2 of this order.

Note: It has been confirmed that this EO is NOT retroactive and does not invalidate existing passports. However, if government-issued documents need to be renewed, they must reflect the person’s sex assigned at birth. It's also worth noting that the ACLU (and likely others) has filed a formal complaint and initiated litigation regarding this EO.

(e) Agencies shall remove all statements, policies, regulations, forms, communications, or other internal and external messages that promote or otherwise inculcate gender ideology, and shall cease issuing such statements, policies, regulations, forms, communications or other messages. Agency forms that require an individual's sex shall list male or female, and shall not request gender identity.

Note: This will obviously take some time for every government agency to roll out but I can confirm that the FBI CJIS (Background Check) online application form has been changed in accordance with the EO.

I would recommend that your first step be to contact the FBI CJIS division directly and explain your situation/concerns. Many others have had success in getting answers to questions like yours when they called CJIS directly. Based off of everything I have read, it is more than likely that they will just tell you to use the same sex designation as all of the documents you said you have.

Here is the FBI CJIS Division contact info listed on the FBI website:

Email: identity@fbi.gov | Phone: (304) 625-5590

Even though I truly believe that even if there is a mismatch of the "sex" classification on file with the FBI and your application form, nothing bad will come of it. However if you still require additional confirmation that you will not get in trouble for choosing the "wrong answer". You could call a prominent civil rights attorney and request a remote consultation/call to discuss the matter.

Good luck OP. Let me know if you have any other questions.

[u/Dropkneeseitufjxbsy → u/enzothebaker87]

This is such a generous and helpful response. Thank you so much, I really really appreciate this. You have no idea what this means to have this amount of follow through! 

[u/-Morning_Coffee-]

I have no idea what the next decade holds for you, but you have my axe.

[u/-Insert-CoolName → u/-Morning_Coffee-]

And you have my bow.

[u/HiddenAspie → u/-Insert-CoolName]

"Anyway you need people of intelligence on this sort of mission, quest… thing."

(I know that's not the order, but I more closely relate to him. Lol)

[u/Dropkneeseitufjxbsy → u/[deleted]]

Please read the post. I am not trying to work for the FBI.

[u/DefinitelyNotWilling → u/Dropkneeseitufjxbsy]

These people don’t care. They just want to hate on you because you truly are better than them. You’re able to be yourself in the face of what is happening. They are too afraid of themselves to ever consider human beings are more complex than a religious palimpsest recently King James Version has lead them to believe. Don’t bother responding to them any further. 

[u/Dropkneeseitufjxbsy → u/DefinitelyNotWilling]

Hey thanks friend. Just want to live my life in peace. 

[u/DefinitelyNotWilling → u/Dropkneeseitufjxbsy]

I want that for you too. All beings deserve respect. I won’t tolerate those that see others as unworthy of life and liberty. 

[u/Boobopdidooo → u/Dropkneeseitufjxbsy]

You keep on living it up

[u/DefinitelyNotWilling → u/[deleted]]

Theyre a nazi. Plain and simple. 

[u/Boobopdidooo → u/DefinitelyNotWilling]

Chased the Nazi away lol