US Passport Policy Shift: Trump Administration Revokes ‘X’ Gender Marker Option
The US State Department has announced that it will no longer issue passports with a non-binary “X” gender marker, following a directive from President Donald Trump’s administration. The decision, which reverses a policy introduced by the previous administration, reflects a broader effort to restrict the recognition of non-binary and gender-nonconforming identities in federal documents and policies.
The change is part of a larger executive order signed by President Trump, which mandates that federal agencies only recognize two sexes: male and female. The order also instructs government agencies to ensure that official documents, including passports, visas, and employee records, align with an individual’s biological sex.
According to a State Department spokesperson, passports will now only reflect an individual’s biological sex as defined in the executive order. The department has promised to provide guidance on previously issued passports with the “X” marker, which were introduced in April 2022 to accommodate non-binary, intersex, and gender-nonconforming individuals.
The move has sparked concern among advocacy groups, who argue that the policy change undermines the rights of individuals who do not identify within the binary framework of male or female. Critics also point out that the decision is part of a broader effort to restrict access to healthcare services for transgender and non-binary individuals.
In related news, President Trump has signed an executive order aimed at restricting birthright citizenship, which grants automatic US citizenship to anyone born on American soil. The order, which applies to babies born after February 19, is part of the administration’s efforts to overhaul immigration policies and restrict access to citizenship for certain groups.
The implications of these policy changes are likely to be far-reaching, and will be closely watched by civil rights advocates and lawmakers in the coming weeks and months.
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