Binghamton University implements legal sex update process

A foundational belief at Binghamton University is that everyone deserves to be accepted and valued. The University strives to be an inclusive community where all are welcomed regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation or background.

New York state legislation, with support from a SUNY resolution approved earlier this year that ensures campuses update policies on use of chosen names and pronouns, are enabling the University to move forward with changes that will clearly demonstrate this commitment.

“With the backing of the SUNY system and New York state law, we’re now able to implement a number of processes that will ensure everyone on our campus is able to represent themselves as they want to be,” said President Harvey Stenger. “We continue to look for ways to be supportive of every individual.”

“This is one step toward ensuring a welcoming, supportive and inclusive campus culture for trans, nonbinary and gender non-conforming students,” said Anne Guanciale, director of intercultural affairs for the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. ”Having students’ identities reflected in campus data systems enhances a sense of belonging and respect, which has a positive impact on well-being and academic success.”

By year-end, individuals at the University with legal documentation will be able to update their legal sex in campus data systems to M, F or X. Information on how to update your legal sex can be found on the Registrar’s website.

And by fall 2023, individuals at the University will be able to update their gender identity at any time in the my.binghamton portal to man, woman, trans, genderqueer/gender non-conforming or different identity, and also update their pronouns to he/him, she/her, they/them, use my name or ask me my pronouns. Instructions for how to update your gender identity and pronouns will be made available on the Registrar’s website when the process is implemented.

Binghamton University announced its Chosen Name Policy in January 2020. Since then, students and employees have been able to indicate their chosen first names to the University community, even if they have not changed their legal name. (A legal name is the name that appears on government-issued identification such as a license, passport or birth certificate.)

The University formed a Gender X and Pronouns and Implementation Committee comprised of members from across campus. The committee met throughout the fall, Guanciale said. “We wanted to make sure that we were considering areas that used the legal sex field in a way that was really pertinent,” she said. “Areas such Res Life and housing, and the Office of International and Student Affairs that works with passports can pose different challenges with implementation.”

Committee representatives included:

• Nicholas Martin
• Scott Geiger
• Anne Guanciale
• Karen Hill
• Dara Silberstein
• Rebecca Greenstrom
• Amber Stallman
• Christopher Cullinane
• James Pitarresi
• Lester Coghill
• Patricia Bello
• Michael Hizny
• David Eagan
• Jesse La Scala
• Mark Rice
• Meegs Longacre

Moving forward, the Q Center will offer information sessions to the campus and make presentations to stakeholders.