The United States Government announced this Thursday that from April 11 will allow all of its citizens who do not conform to traditional male or female gender identities to select an X as a third alternative on their passport.
This was announced by the Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, who has described the decision as “another milestone” of the Administration of the president, Joe Biden, “to better serve all American citizens, regardless of their gender identity.”
“The Department is setting a precedent as the first Federal Government agency to offer the X gender marker on an identity document. When we announced in June that we were beginning this work, we were referring to the addition of a third gender marker for non-binary people. , intersex and gender non-conforming,” he explained.
“US citizens will be able to select X as their gender marker on their US passport book starting April 11. As we mark Transgender Day of Visibility, we mark this historic moment at the @StateDept as a meaningful step towards LGBTQI+ inclusivity. #TDOV“
— Secretary Antony Blinken (@SecBlinken) March 31, 2022
Blinken has recounted that after “careful” consultation with those countries that have already taken “this important step”as well as with collectives, LGTBI groups and the Health Statistics Center of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the definition of the gender marker X will be ‘unspecified or other gender identity’.
Setbacks in various states for LGBTI rights
“This definition respects people’s privacy while promoting inclusion”highlighted Blinken, who pointed out that said X will be available in other legal documents from 2023.
“We reaffirm our commitment to promoting and protecting the freedom, dignity and equality of all, including transgender, non-binary and gender non-conforming people,” Blinken said in a statement.
“Today on Transgender Day of Visibility we are announcing a historic milestone: US citizens will be able to select an X as their gender marker on their US passport application starting April 11. Read more here: https://t.co/rputpu0cNU. pic.twitter.com/I8cOG0zXkv“
— Department of State (@StateDept) March 31, 2022
The move by the US government comes at a time when GOP-controlled state governments are seeking to impose new restrictions on transgender people, including prohibit transgender women from participating in sports competitions because of the superiority they would have over the rest of the participants due to their past as a man.
Texas recently enacted a law that prohibits medical treatment for youth transitioning to a different genderwhile Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay” law limits, if not outright prohibits, sexual diversity education in public schools.
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