The American Medical Association Advocates to Remove Assigned Sex From Birth Certificates

The American Medical Association said in a June report that it will advocate to remove the sex designation on public portions of birth certificates. Now several right-wing publications and personalities have come out on social media against the AMA's decision.

In the report, the AMA's LGBTQ Advisory Committee said, "Assigning sex using a binary variable and placing it on the public portion of the birth certificate perpetuates a view that it is immutable and fails to recognize the medical spectrum of gender identity. Participation by the medical profession and the government in assigning sex is often used as evidence supporting this binary view."

Including the designation on the birth certificates, the committee explained, risks contributing to the marginalization of those whose identities fall outside of the binary.

The assigned sex would still be used for medical, public health, and statistical information.

Noting the history of birth certificates in the U.S., the AMA report compared the sex designation to how birth certificates previously were used to maintain racial hierarchies.

"The Advisory Committee recognizes that moving sex designations below the line of demarcation will not address all aspects of the inequities transgender and intersex people face, but such an effort would represent a valuable first step," the report stated.

The report made waves after WebMD shared the recommendation on social media.

The right-wing website The Federalist wrote, "For an organization that blindly supports genital mutation on minors, it's no surprise that they want to eliminate sex on a birth certificate."

Several conservative politicians also commented on the recommendation.

Former U.N. Ambassador Niki Haley wrote, "This is literally the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. Stop the madness!"

Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik said, "No. I am proudly having a baby boy."