State Department issues first 'Gender X' passport, working toward permanent change

By Misty Severi

October 27, 2021 - 9:33 AM

 
A spokesman for the State Department announced Wednesday that the department has issued its first nonbinary passport.

The department is transitioning toward a permanent change to allow people to identify as nonbinary on passports and "Consular Reports of Birth Abroad" forms, which are used when U.S. citizens are born overseas. Transgender people can already apply for new passports under their preferred genders without medical documentation or supporting documents.



"The Department of State continues the process of updating its policies regarding gender markers on U.S. passports and Consular Reports of Birth Abroad (CRBAs) to better serve all U.S. citizens, regardless of their gender identity," spokesman Ned Price said in a statement.

EXCLUSIVE: STATE DEPARTMENT TO ALLOW PASSPORT APPLICANTS TO SELECT GENDER WITHOUT MEDICAL DOCUMENTATION

Price emphasized the department's "commitment to promoting the freedom, dignity, and equality of all people — including LGBTQI+ persons."

"The Department also continues to work closely with other U.S. government agencies to ensure as smooth a travel experience as possible for all passport holders, regardless of their gender identity," he added.

The new passport follows Secretary of State Antony Blinken's June announcement of proposed changes to U.S. passport and CRBA policies designed to make the process more inclusive.

The White House celebrated the policy change in June, saying the public "deserves access to forms of Federal identification that respect and dignify their gender identity."

"Representation matters. Recognition matters," President Joe Biden said at a Pride month celebration. "There's something else that matters: Results. Results. I'm proud to lead the most pro-LGBTQ equality administration in U.S. history."

The Gender X option is expected to become permanent in early 2022, according to the State Department.

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