The First Passport with X Gender Marker Issued by US State Department

In June, the State Department announced they would update its procedures to allow applicants to self-select their sex marker for passports and medical certification is no longer required if it doesn’t match the sex listed on other official identity documents.

State spokesperson, Ned Price, stated “…the Department is moving towards adding an X gender marker for non-binary, intersex, and gender non-conforming persons applying for a U.S. passport or CRBA. I want to reiterate, on the occasion of this passport issuance, the Department of State’s commitment to promoting the freedom, dignity, and equality of all people — including LGBTQI+ persons.”

After the Department finishes updating the system and forms, the new gender marker option will be offered to routine passport applicants in early 2022.

Transgender rights activists have claimed that for members of the LGBTQ community, inaccurate IDs could potentially lead to harassment and discrimination. In response, the State Department mentioned it was U.S. policy to end “violence and discrimination on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and sex characteristics.”

The U.S. joins other countries with similar gender-inclusive passport policies like Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Among the states, Washington, D.C., New Jersey and several other states have implemented similar changes to state documentation.

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