The State Department announced Wednesday that a U.S. passport with an X-gender marker is now available to non-binary, intersex, and gender non-conforming individuals.
A department release posted on its website says Ned Price announced the move in response to a commitment from Secretary of State Antony Blinken to make the third gender marker available, “another step towards ensuring that LGBTQI+ U.S. citizens are treated fairly, regardless of gender or sex.”
All routine passport applicants will have the option once system and form updates are complete early next year.
U.S. officials told the Associated Press (AP) Wednesday that special diplomatic envoy for LGBTQI+ rights, Jessica Stern, said the change was “historic and celebratory,” pointing out that the change aligns government travel documents with “lived reality” of a larger range of human sex characteristics than previously recognized.
When identity documents reflect a person’s true identity, they live in greater dignity and respect.
It was praised by the American Civil Liberties Union.
It is a historic day for the United States as the State Department issues the first passport with a ‘X’ designation, and we are grateful to have an accurate marker on our passports for all transgender, intersex, and non-binary people. According to the ACLU, “gender markers will continue to be made available on federal IDs and records across the federal government in partnership with the Biden administration.”
While the AP reports intersex Colorado resident Dana Zzyym has been in legal battle with the department since 2015, it is unclear to whom the original X-gender passport was issued.
Zzyym wrote “intersex” above the boxes marked “M” and “F” and requested an “X” gender marker instead.
The United States allows its citizens to designate a gender other than male or female on their passports, like Australia, New Zealand, Nepal, and Canada. For more information, visit www.uspassporthelpguide.com.
Stern plans to share the U.S. experience with the change in its interactions around the world in hopes of inspiring other governments to offer the option.
