State Dept: X Gender Markers Allowed On Passports

Via press release from the State Department:

The Department of State has reached another milestone in our work to better serve all U.S. citizens, regardless of their gender identity.

In June, I announced that U.S. passport applicants could self-select their gender and were no longer required to submit any medical documentation, even if their selected gender differed from their other citizenship or identity documents.

Starting on April 11, U.S. citizens will be able to select an X as their gender marker on their U.S. passport application, and the option will become available for other forms of documentation next year.

The Department is setting a precedent as the first federal government agency to offer the X gender marker on an identity document.

When we announced in June that we had begun this work, we referred to the addition of a third gender marker for non-binary, intersex, and gender non-conforming individuals.

Since then, we have solicited public feedback through the notice and comment process we undertook to update our passport application forms.

We have also continued to consult with partner countries who have already taken this important step to recognize gender diversity on their passports.

Read the full statement. Notably, this announcement comes on the annual Transgender Day Of Visibility. Now stand by for the screaming.