The United States of America has announced the launch of passports with gender markers other than male or female.
The U.S. State Department made the announcement on Wednesday in a statement that it had issued the first U.S. passport with an “X” gender marker, acknowledging non-binary, intersex and gender non-conforming people.
“As the Secretary announced in June, 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,” State spokesperson Ned Price said in a statement. “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.”
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Though it has not been disclosed who the first passport was issued to, Mr Price said that the U.S. would be adding the “X” gender marker as an option for those applying for U.S. passports or Consular Reports of Birth Abroad.
“We look forward to offering this option to all routine passport applicants once we complete the required system and form updates in early 2022,” Mr Price said.
The announcement was originally made in June by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, stating that the update would allow applicants to self-select their sex marker for passports, and that it “will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., with the development, has joined the ranks of Canada, Australia, New Zealand and other countries that offer a third gender option on travel documents.
