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Department of Health publishes new guidelines requiring employees to use preferred pronouns

The new mandate, titled "Gender Identity Non-Discrimination and Inclusion Guidance" requires workers to address their co-workers based on their self-identified gender.

Rachel Levine, subsecretaria de Salud

(Governor Tom Wolf/ Flickr)

Published by
Verónica Silveri Pazos

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released new guidelines called "Gender Identity Non-Discrimination and Inclusion Guidance." The new mandate requires the agency's employees to address their colleagues based on their self-identified gender, or preferred pronouns. An email sent to workers and reviewed by CNA stated:

The guidance makes clear that all employees should be add[ressed by] the names and pronouns they use to describe themselves, clarifying that employees can wear clothing and [use] restrooms in accordance with their gender identity.

In a video attached to the email sent to workers, Andrea Palm, deputy secretary of HHS, assured that the new policy allows workers to "show up every day as their whole selves":

I want to say clearly to every one of you: who you are and who you know yourself to be is valid. We want you to be your authentic self every day, regardless of your gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, religion or disability status.

Workers can use clothing and bathrooms corresponding to their self-identified gender

HHS Assistant Secretary for Health Rachel Levine assured that the purpose of the guidance is that with its application "all HHS employees, including transgender and nonbinary employees, have equal protections in the workplace."

The department's new policy also allows employees to come to work in clothing that matches their self-identified gender. They may also use the bathrooms that correspond to their gender identity, even if they are not those of their biological sex.

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