United Airlines has become the first U.S. airline to offer non-binary gender options throughout all booking channels in addition to providing the option to select the title “Mx.” during booking and in a MileagePlus customer profile. Customers now have the ability to identify themselves as M(male), F(female), U(undisclosed) or X(unspecified), corresponding with what is indicated on their passports or identification.
“United is determined to lead the industry in LGBT inclusivity, and we are so proud to be the first U.S. airline to offer these inclusive booking options for our customers,” said United’s Chief Customer Officer Toby Enqvist. “United is excited to share with our customers, whether they identify along the binary of male or female or not, that we are taking the steps to exhibit our care for them while also providing additional employee training to make us even more welcoming for all customers and employees.”
As part of implementing these new changes, United has worked with the Human Rights Campaign and The Trevor Project on employee training initiatives. These initiatives include teaching employees about preferred pronouns and the persistence of gender norms, LGBT competency in the workplace and other steps to make United an inclusive space for both customers and employees.
“At the Human Rights Campaign, we believe being acknowledged as the gender you identify with is part of treating everyone with dignity and respect,” said Beck Bailey, acting director of the Workplace Equality Program. “By providing non-binary gender selection for ticketing and the gender-inclusive honorific ‘Mx’ in user profiles, United Airlines is taking an important step forward for non-binary inclusion.”
“The Trevor Project is grateful for United Airlines’ support of our life-saving work on behalf of LGBTQ youth,” said Amit Paley, CEO & Executive Director of The Trevor Project. “We are thrilled to bring Trevor’s expertise on the mental health of LGBTQ people to United to ensure its employees maintain safe and inclusive spaces for LGBTQ employees and guests.”
Alongside partner organizations, customers, and employees, United will continue working to build the world’s most inclusive airline. The changes to the booking process are now currently available.
In the recent US Trans Survey, More than one-third (35%) of respondents indicated
that their gender identity was best described as nonbinary or genderqueer (US Trans Survey). Here are just a few of the amazing gender queer & non-binary individuals who are bringing visibility to the movement.
Born & raised in San Francisco and now established in New York, Jes Tom is a fresh voice in stand up comedy.
Their first 30 minute comedy special, Cold Brew, was recorded live in August 2016 at Astoria’s QED: A Place to Show and Tell. Cold Brew is an elegy for the Fuckboi. It’s a cautionary lamentation about being Queer and getting your heart broken in the age of “Love is Love is Love.” Through stand up, storytelling, and uncomfortably public vulnerability, COLD BREW tackles “falling in love,” astrology, interracial relationships, Pokémon, gay porn, and the inevitable fall of society as we know it
Jes Tom holds a BA in Theatre from Smith College. They have completed the Meisner Acting program at Maggie Flanigan Studio.
Brian Langevin is the Executive Director of Asexual Outreach. Recognizing the need for a more collaborative and sustainable movement, Brian brought together a team to found Asexual Outreach in 2014. Since then, Brian’s passion for the nonprofit sector led them to a Nonprofit Management program at Ryerson University, while Brian’s drive for equality has them happily spending their days building a better society for aces and aros across the country.
Much like Christopher Soto, the work of Ignacio Rivera blurs the lines between art and activism. Ignacio identifies as “Brooklyn, New York City born and raised Queer, Two-spirit, Black Boricua Taíno” who uses the gender-neutral pronoun they.
Ignacio is also one of the founding board member of Queers for Economic Justice; a progressive non-profit organization committed to promoting economic justice in a context of sexual and gender liberation. And while this organization is no longer around, it had a profound impact on our movement, highlighting how LGBT folks living in poverty are affected by issues like welfare reform, homelessness and the shelter system.
These days Ignacio wears many, many hats. They are a performance artist, activist, lecturer, and most recently a filmaker. Learn more about Ignacio at their website, www.ignaciogrivera.com.
A native Texan, currently living in Puerto Rico, Toi is a gender non-conforming author, playwright, spoken word artist, filmmaker, journalist, medicine-maker, health advocate, food justice activist, anti-racist and anti-oppression organizer/diversity and gender workshop facilitator and curriculum developer. Toi is also a QPOC/POC (queer/people of color) community builder/organizer. They are the author of Notes from an Afro-Genderqueer (1 and 2). Find out more at www.afrogenderqueer.com.
Kaitlyn Alexander is a Canadian actor, writer, and youtuber. They are known for their role as LaFontaine in the online web series Carmilla. They are also the creator of the web series Couple-ish, in which Alexander acts as a main character, writer, producer. They play the lead role, Dee, who is non-binary, pansexual and open to date all genders. The series was funded through a successful Kickstarter campaip9up8gn, which raised over $29,000. An accomplished musician, Kaitlyn also wrote and recorded the theme song for the web series. Watch Couple-ish on Youtube.
Jacob Tobia is the host of NBC OUT’s Queer 2.0 and a leading voice for genderqueer, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming people. They have appeared on MTV’s The T Word, and in 2015, Jacob was profiled by MTV in the one hour, GLAAD Award-nominated episode of True Life: I’m Genderqueer.
Jacob is a Point Foundation Scholar, Harry S. Truman Scholar, and recipient of the Campus Pride National Voice and Action Award. They have spoken at conferences and college campuses around the country. Find out more about Jacob at www.jacobtobia.com.
Christoppher Soto (aka Loma) is an nationally recognized poet and activist. Their first chapbook “Sad Girl Poems” was published by Sibling Rivalry Press and tackles some tough topics like LGBTQ youth homelessness, Intimate Partner Violence, and suicide. Their work has been translated into Spanish and Portuguese.
They are currently working on a full-length poetry manuscript about police violence and mass incarceration. Originally from the Los Angeles area, Christopher now now resides in Brooklyn. Visit Christopher’s website at christophersoto-poet.com.
Jeffrey Marsh, author of ‘How to Be You’ from Penguin Random House, is an LGBTQ activist and icon whose message of inclusion and acceptance has amassed over 300 MILLION views on social media. Named ‘Viner of the Year’ by CBS, Jeffrey has 500k+ fans on their social channels, and is the creator of the global trends #NoTimeToHateMyself and #DontSayThatsSoGay. Jeffrey is a regular contributor, writer, and on-air host for Snapchat Stories, Facebook Live, O Magazine, Oprah.com, TIME.com, Huffington Post, Buzzfeed, Mashable, and Mom.me, to name a few. Find out more at www.jeffreymarsh.com.
The National Center for Transgender Equality has released the results of the 2015 US Transgender Survey, which documents widespread discrimination against the transgender community in employment, housing, healthcare, and public accommodations. It is the largest survey of it’s kind, with over 27,000 respondents from across the country. Of these respondents, more than one third did not identify as either male or female, but reported a non-binary (or genderqueer) gender identity. Among the key findings in the report.
Poverty
Survey respondents reported an unemployment rate of 15%, which is three-times that of the general population. Not suprisingly, this means higher rates of poverty and a reliance on underground economies. Close to one-third of all survey respondents were found to be living in poverty (this number being even higher for transgender people of color), and one-third also reported having experienced homelessness at some points in their lives.
A lack of financial resources proved to be a significant barrier to participants getting identity documents updated with their desired name and gender. 35% of those who have not changed their legal name and 32% of those who have not updated their identity documents (like a drivers license) have not done so because they could not afford it.
Healthcare
One quarter of all respondents had a problem in the past year with their insurance related to being transgender. Further, one third of those who sought medical care reported a negative experience such as being harrassed, misgendered, or refused treatment.
This lack of access to quality care is particularly disturbing when you take into account the needs of the transgender community. Transgender individuals reported higher rates of recent psychological distress, which is not suprising considering the challenges faced in society. An extremely troubling 40% of respondents report having attempted suicide in their lifetime.
Finally, the HIV/AIDS rate of the survey participants was (1.4%) was five times that of the general population in the United States. That number skyrockets to 19% when looking specifically at Black transgender women.
Violence
46% of survey respondents report being verbally harrassed and 9% report being physically attacked in the past year. Nearly half of respondents have experienced sexual assault at some point in their lifetime.
Room for Hope
While these numbers are deeply troubling, there are some reasons to be hopeful. More than two-thirds of those who were out at in the workplace reported that their coworkers were supportive.
Further, more than half of participants reported that their families are currently supportive of them, and this family support is crucial. Individuals with supportive families experienced lower rates of homelessness, suicide, and psychological distress, a finding consistent with the work of the Family Acceptance Project.
