In this case, the term gender was very helpful.

Good point, enrique. Reiterates very clearly that the distinction between sex and gender is an important one.

But would your student have checked "male" or "female" on application forms that said Sex ? If this sounds flippant or rhetorical, it isn't meant to be. For, as you say, her sex was male. Of course, she could have written an appropriate comment at that point in the form and/or complained to whoever issued it. But there may have been good reasons for the form's issuer wanting to know the applicant's sex. Again, gender may be relevant in some cases; in fact, it may be more relevant, in that it will often relate to how the person filling out the form wishes to be identified. So should there be a separate area on the form in which gender is specified?

And should trans-sexuals be referred to as "he" or "she"? Probably by whichever term relates to their gender; but you could argue that's providing incomplete information. Is the missing information at all important or relevant to others?
In which case we need a word that relates to "he" & "she" as "Ms" relates to "Mrs", perhaps.

My point is that our language and society really has a way to go before it can handle trans-sexuality. Which is a bit ironic in that it isn't really something new.

Phew, I'm going for a nice cold drink after that..