In new guidance released yesterday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) made clear that human life begins at conception and that only two biological sexes are determined therein – male and female. 

The release of the guidance marks one of the first actions taken by newly confirmed HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and implements in part President Donald Trump’s efforts to eradicate “false” gender ideology throughout the executive branch. The guidance informs all federal agencies, the government’s external partners, and the public that the “immutable” nature of human sex is genetically determined at conception. By recognizing binary sex as “objective biology,” the government can then help protect the health and safety of women and children, the HHS stated.

“This administration is bringing back common sense and restoring biological truth to the federal government,” said Secretary Kennedy in a press statement. “The prior administration’s policy of trying to engineer gender ideology into every aspect of public life is over.”

The guidance stems from President Trump’s recent executive order titled, “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government.” The order instructed the HHS to provide the public “clear guidance” on sex-based definitions stipulating that “sex” is strictly a “biological classification as either male or female” and “not a synonym” for the concept of gender identity.

Therefore, the new HHS guidance specifically defines the terms “sex,” “male,” and “female” accordingly. The guidance defines them as:

• “Sex: A person’s immutable biological classification as either male or female.
• Female: is a person of the sex characterized by a reproductive system with the biological function of producing eggs (ova).
• Male: is a person of the sex characterized by a reproductive system with the biological function of producing sperm.”

HHS also defines “man,” “woman,” “girl,” “boy,” “mother,” and “father” strictly on male and female lines. In contrast, the previous administration often infused sexual orientation and gender identity into “sex” definitions and even defined “sex” as “an individual’s biological status as male, female, or something else.”

The guidance also addressed the rare disorder of having both male and female anatomy, commonly called “intersex.” The guidance explained that since there are only two types of reproductive cells – the sperm and the egg – these rare disorders “do not constitute a third sex” because there is no third reproductive cell. 

The guidance noted that recognizing the binary, biological nature of sex will ensure both positive health outcomes for women and children and ensure their safety in medical treatments, private spaces, sports, and opportunities.

“Restoring biological truth to the Federal government is critical to scientific inquiry, public safety, morale, and trust in government itself,” the HHS stated.

Coinciding with the guidance, HHS recently launched a new website that provides information and resources for “protecting women and children.”

Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver said, “Reality and sound science have long confirmed that life begins at conception and that biological human sex is immutable. This commonsense guidance allows a return to sound governance based on fact, not fiction. Radical gender ideology must be completely rooted out from government to fully protect the health, safety, and fairness of women and children.”