The State Department has suspended processing passport applications seeking the gender marker of “X” and will only process and issue passports for people identifying as male or female, according to a department spokesperson.Video above: Trump’s gender policy shift draws criticismThe move aligns with an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on Monday that says it is U.S. government policy “to recognize two sexes, male and female” and that “these sexes are not changeable.”“In line with that Order, the Department’s issuance of U.S. passports will reflect the individual’s biological sex as defined in the Executive Order,” the spokesperson said Friday.In addition to the suspension of processing the applications with the X marker, the State Department is no longer issuing US passports with this marker, the spokesperson said.They said that “guidance regarding previously issued X sex marker passports is forthcoming.”The Trump executive order reverses changes made under the Biden administration meant to accommodate non-binary, intersex and gender non-conforming persons. Beginning in April 2022, Americans had been able to select X as their gender marker.The federal government will also shift from using the term “gender” to “sex,” and that sex is “an individual’s immutable biological classification,” a Trump administration official told reporters Monday.Trump’s executive order says that all government agencies will ensure that official documents, including passports, visas and Global Entry cards, “accurately reflect the holder’s sex.” Employee records will also adhere to the executive order, as will federal departments’ messaging.Trump promised on the campaign trail to ask Congress to stop the use of federal dollars to promote and pay for gender-affirming procedures. He has also said that his administration would not allow hospitals and health care providers to meet the federal health and safety standards for Medicaid and Medicare if they provide chemical or physical gender-affirming care to youth.CNN’s Tami Luhby and Piper Hudspeth Blackburn contributed to this report.
The State Department has suspended processing passport applications seeking the gender marker of “X” and will only process and issue passports for people identifying as male or female, according to a department spokesperson.
Video above: Trump’s gender policy shift draws criticism
The move aligns with an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on Monday that says it is U.S. government policy “to recognize two sexes, male and female” and that “these sexes are not changeable.”
“In line with that Order, the Department’s issuance of U.S. passports will reflect the individual’s biological sex as defined in the Executive Order,” the spokesperson said Friday.
In addition to the suspension of processing the applications with the X marker, the State Department is no longer issuing US passports with this marker, the spokesperson said.
They said that “guidance regarding previously issued X sex marker passports is forthcoming.”
The Trump executive order reverses changes made under the Biden administration meant to accommodate non-binary, intersex and gender non-conforming persons. Beginning in April 2022, Americans had been able to select X as their gender marker.
The federal government will also shift from using the term “gender” to “sex,” and that sex is “an individual’s immutable biological classification,” a Trump administration official told reporters Monday.
Trump’s executive order says that all government agencies will ensure that official documents, including passports, visas and Global Entry cards, “accurately reflect the holder’s sex.” Employee records will also adhere to the executive order, as will federal departments’ messaging.
Trump promised on the campaign trail to ask Congress to stop the use of federal dollars to promote and pay for gender-affirming procedures. He has also said that his administration would not allow hospitals and health care providers to meet the federal health and safety standards for Medicaid and Medicare if they provide chemical or physical gender-affirming care to youth.
CNN’s Tami Luhby and Piper Hudspeth Blackburn contributed to this report.
The State Department has announced that it will no longer be issuing passports with an X gender marker option. This decision comes after the Biden administration had initially planned to implement the change to allow for more inclusivity for non-binary and gender non-conforming individuals.
The State Department cited “security concerns” as the reason for halting the implementation of the X gender marker option. However, many LGBTQ+ advocacy groups have criticized this decision, stating that it is a step backwards in the fight for equality and recognition for individuals whose gender identity does not fit within the traditional binary options of male or female.
This move by the State Department is disappointing for many in the LGBTQ+ community who were looking forward to being able to accurately represent their gender identity on their passports. It remains to be seen if there will be any further developments or changes in the future regarding this issue.
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State Department, gender marker, passports, X gender, non-binary, identity, government, policy, LGBTQ+, United States, travel, documentation
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