United States issues its 1st passport with ‘X’ gender marker

United States issues its 1st passport with ‘X’ gender marker

The United States has issued its first passport with an “X” gender designation — a milestone in the recognition of the rights of people who don’t identify as male or female.

DENVER — The United States has issued its first passport with an “X” gender designation — a milestone in the recognition of the rights of people who don’t identify as male or female — and expects to be able to offer the option more broadly next year, the State Department said Wednesday.

The U.S. special diplomatic envoy for LGBTQ rights, Jessica Stern, called the moves historic and celebratory, saying they bring the government documents in line with the “lived reality” that there is a wider spectrum of human sex characteristics than is reflected in the previous two designations.

“When a person obtains identity documents that reflect their true identity, they live with greater dignity and respect,” Stern said.

The department did not announce to whom the passport was issued. A department official declined to say whether it was for Dana Zzyym, an intersex Colorado resident who has been in a legal battle with the department since 2015, saying the department does not usually discuss individual passport applications because of privacy concerns.

Zzyym (pronounced Zimm) was denied a passport for failing to check male or female on an application. According to court documents, Zzyym wrote “intersex” above the boxes marked “M” and “F” and requested an “X” gender marker instead in a separate letter.

Zzyym was born with ambiguous physical sexual characteristics but was raised as a boy and underwent several surgeries that failed to make Zzyym appear fully male, according to court filings. Zzyym served in the Navy as a male but later came to identify as intersex while working and studying at Colorado State University. The department’s denial of Zzyym’s passport prevented Zzyym from being able to travel to a meeting of Organization Intersex International in Mexico.

The State Department announced in June that it was moving toward adding a third gender marker for nonbinary, intersex and gender-nonconforming people but said it would take time because it required extensive updates to its computer systems. A department official said the passport application and system update with the “X” designation option still need to be approved by the Office of Management and Budget, which approves all government forms, before they can be issued.

The department now also allows applicants to self-select their gender as male or female, no longer requiring them to provide medical certification if their gender did not match that listed on their other identification documents.

The United States joins a handful of countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Nepal and Canada, in allowing its citizens to designate a gender other than male or female on their passports.

Stern said her office planned to talk about the United States’ experience with the change in its interactions around the world and she hopes that might help inspire other governments to offer the option.

“We see this as a way of affirming and uplifting the human rights of trans and intersex and gender-nonconforming and nonbinary people everywhere,” she said.

ABC News

Senior writer at the Chicago Morning Star

Related Posts
Microsoft Cuts 9,000 Jobs Amid AI Spending Surge
Microsoft has become the latest tech heavyweight to enact sweeping layoffs, citing rising costs tied
Feds Urge States to Remove Political Symbols From Roads
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has urged all 50 state governors, along with the governors
Record July 4 Travel Expected Across U.S. in 2025
This Fourth of July holiday is set to be the busiest on record, with an
UPenn Ends Trans Participation in Women’s Sports
The University of Pennsylvania has resolved with the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), agreeing to
‘Pay the Players more’ – US Women Football team awaits new victory after World Cup Win
US Women Soccer team has filed a federal lawsuit which talks about the gender discrimination
Injuries Push Astros to Debut More Minor Leaguers
With a growing list of injuries depleting their roster, the Houston Astros continue to turn
The new Alex Saab is a U.S. person: Antonio Luis Gonzalez Morales
Antonio Luis Gonzalez Morales, a Venezuelan oil trader with deep ties to the Maduro regime,
TikTok Readies U.S. App Before ByteDance Deadline
TikTok is preparing to launch a separate version of its app specifically for U.S. users,
Boyd to Host Event for Senior Wellness Support
Boyd Healthcare is inviting the public to a free informational session about its Senior Life
Deadly Holiday Flood Devastates Central Texas
Devastating floods swept through central Texas in early July, killing at least 78 people and
Microsoft Cuts 9,000 Jobs Amid AI Spending Surge
Microsoft has become the latest tech heavyweight to enact sweeping layoffs, citing rising costs tied
Feds Urge States to Remove Political Symbols From Roads
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has urged all 50 state governors, along with the governors
Record July 4 Travel Expected Across U.S. in 2025
This Fourth of July holiday is set to be the busiest on record, with an
UPenn Ends Trans Participation in Women’s Sports
The University of Pennsylvania has resolved with the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), agreeing to
‘Pay the Players more’ – US Women Football team awaits new victory after World Cup Win
US Women Soccer team has filed a federal lawsuit which talks about the gender discrimination
Injuries Push Astros to Debut More Minor Leaguers
With a growing list of injuries depleting their roster, the Houston Astros continue to turn
The new Alex Saab is a U.S. person: Antonio Luis Gonzalez Morales
Antonio Luis Gonzalez Morales, a Venezuelan oil trader with deep ties to the Maduro regime,
TikTok Readies U.S. App Before ByteDance Deadline
TikTok is preparing to launch a separate version of its app specifically for U.S. users,