President Donald Trump has taken a significant step to limit government recognition of transgender and nonbinary identities, signing an executive order on Monday that mandates federal agencies to recognize only male or female sex markers. The move ends the issuance of passports with a gender-neutral "X" option, a policy initially introduced under former President Joe Biden.
A State Department spokesperson confirmed the directive on Friday, stating, "The department is no longer issuing U.S. passports with X markers and has suspended processing applications requesting sex markers outside the terms of the Executive Order."
The department also announced forthcoming guidance for individuals holding previously issued X-marker passports, with updates to be posted on its official website.
The executive order, signed shortly after Trump took office, asserts that "a person's sex is unchangeable," reflecting his administration's broader rollback of policies designed to support LGBTQ+ rights and racial equity. The policy shift has left many applicants in limbo, awaiting clarity on their pending applications or existing travel documents.
Trump's move marks a stark reversal of Biden-era policies aimed at increasing inclusivity in federal identification documents.
The State Department made history in October 2021 by issuing its first passport with a gender-neutral "X" designation, a landmark moment following a protracted legal battle led by an intersex individual from Colorado, AFP reported. The option became widely available in early 2022, allowing nonbinary, intersex, and gender-nonconforming Americans to select a marker that better reflects their identity.
Although the department has not released specific figures on the number of "X" passports issued or requested, a study by UCLA Law School's Williams Institute estimated that over 16,000 people could apply for such passports annually. This milestone was viewed as a significant step toward inclusivity and recognition of diverse gender identities in official U.S. documentation.
The Guardian contributed to this article.
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