X gender marker option on passport applications to be available in April, Blinken says

a lot of americans end up having trouble when filling out the gender portion of official forms. That's because many don't consider themselves a specific gender or identify as one outside of the traditional male female binary. And now, according to the State Department, at least when it comes to passports, that's about to get a lot easier. Starting april 11th, anyone applying for a passport may choose to have gender X represent them on the document where X is defined as an unspecified or another gender identity. Recently, Secretary of state antony Blinken said it was an endeavor to be quote respectful of individual's privacy while advancing inclusion. This move has been in the works since last june and is coupled with another passport law change as well where applicants won't need a medical certification anymore if their passport application, gender of choice doesn't match their approving documents. But this is just a first step. The federal government is also working on adding gender markers for non binary, intersex and gender, nonconforming persons as well. Mhm.

U.S. citizens will have the option to select "X" when identifying their gender on U.S. passport applications starting in April and on other documents, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday."Starting on April 11, U.S. citizens will be able to select an X as their gender marker on their U.S. passport application, and the option will become available for other forms of documentation next year," Blinken said in a statement. "After thoughtful consideration of the research conducted and feedback from community members, we concluded that the definition of the X gender marker on State Department public forms will be 'Unspecified or another gender identity.' This definition is respectful of individuals' privacy while advancing inclusion."The announcement comes on International Transgender Day of Visibility and as the Biden administration continues with efforts to implement gender-inclusive polices.The administration is also expected to partner with airlines, the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security to add "X" gender markers to their systems, according to an administration fact sheet shared with CNN.International Transgender Day of Visibility aims to celebrate the achievements of transgender rights activists and to increase awareness of ongoing challenges transgender and gender-nonconforming people face.The State Department announced in June it would update its procedures to allow applicants to self select their sex marker for passports and that it "will no longer require medical certification" if an applicant's self-selected sex marker doesn't match the sex listed on other official identity documents.The U.S. joins Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other countries with similar gender-inclusive passport policies. At least 20 states and Washington, D.C., have also implemented similar changes to state documentation, including New Jersey, which enacted the change in April 2021 after delaying it last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.In October, the State Department issued the first U.S. passport with an "X" gender marker.

U.S. citizens will have the option to select "X" when identifying their gender on U.S. passport applications starting in April and on other documents, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Thursday.

"Starting on April 11, U.S. citizens will be able to select an X as their gender marker on their U.S. passport application, and the option will become available for other forms of documentation next year," Blinken said in a statement. "After thoughtful consideration of the research conducted and feedback from community members, we concluded that the definition of the X gender marker on State Department public forms will be 'Unspecified or another gender identity.' This definition is respectful of individuals' privacy while advancing inclusion."

The announcement comes on International Transgender Day of Visibility and as the Biden administration continues with efforts to implement gender-inclusive polices.

The administration is also expected to partner with airlines, the Transportation Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security to add "X" gender markers to their systems, according to an administration fact sheet shared with CNN.

International Transgender Day of Visibility aims to celebrate the achievements of transgender rights activists and to increase awareness of ongoing challenges transgender and gender-nonconforming people face.

The State Department announced in June it would update its procedures to allow applicants to self select their sex marker for passports and that it "will no longer require medical certification" if an applicant's self-selected sex marker doesn't match the sex listed on other official identity documents.

The U.S. joins Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other countries with similar gender-inclusive passport policies. At least 20 states and Washington, D.C., have also implemented similar changes to state documentation, including New Jersey, which enacted the change in April 2021 after delaying it last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In October, the State Department issued the first U.S. passport with an "X" gender marker.

X gender marker option on passport applications to be available in April, Blinken says

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