Background:
In January 2025, the U.S. Department of State implemented new policies affecting transgender and non-binary individuals seeking passports.
Restrictions:
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As of January 20, 2025, the State Department ceased issuing passports with an 'X' gender marker. Passports are now limited to 'M' (male) or 'F' (female) designations, which must align with the applicant's sex assigned at birth
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Applications requesting a gender marker change that does not correspond with the sex assigned at birth are being suspended
Issues:
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Transgender and non-binary individuals may be forced to carry passports that do not reflect their gender identity
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Safety concerns during travel
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May not be able to travel
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Inconsistencies between federal documents and state-issued IDs can arise, as several states allow gender marker changes on identification documents
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Experience delays when trying to access resources
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States would likely be forced to expend needless resources to review mismatched documents
Related resources:
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Transgender Law Center: A national trans-led organization advocating for self-determination and offering legal resources (https://transgenderlawcenter.org)
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Lambda Legal Help Desk: Provides general legal information and resources related to discrimination based on gender identity (https://lambdalegal.org)
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National LGBTQ+ Bar Association: Offers assistance in finding legal help for issues pertaining to name and gender changes (https://lgbtqbar.org)
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Immigration Equality: Provides resources and FAQs for transgender, non-binary, and intersex individuals concerned about gender markers on passports and immigration documents (https://immigrationequality.org/new-considerations-for-us-passports-immigration-forms-and-documents-for-trans-nonbinary-and-intersex-people)
Actions people can take:
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Public Comment: engage in the public comment process for proposed rule changes to express opposition and share personal impacts
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Social Media: call for attention on the internet (can be done through various social media platforms)
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Contact Your Representatives: reach out to elected officials to voice concerns and advocate for policies that recognize and respect gender diversity
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Community Engagement: participate in or support organizations working to protect transgender and non-binary rights (protest, demonstration, campaign, petition, rally, etc.)