US freezes passport applications with 'X' genders after Trump's order
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The United States government has suspended passport applications that include "X" gender markers and halted changes to gender identity on existing passports.
This decision follows an executive order signed by President Donald Trump, mandating that official documents recognise only two sexes: male and female.
The executive order, titled "Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government," asserts that sex is an "immutable biological reality" and specifies that "sex, not gender," must be used on all federal identification documents, including passports and consular birth records.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio swiftly implemented the order, issuing instructions to State Department staff to suspend applications requesting an "X" sex marker or changes to existing gender markers.
Passports already issued with the "X" gender marker remain valid, but their renewal may face challenges under the new rules. Since April 2022, the State Department had allowed the inclusion of "X" as a non-binary gender identifier on passports, recognising diverse gender identities.
The executive order, however, reverses this progress, freezing the issuance of new passports with "X" markers and halting any modifications to sex markers on current passports.
The order’s restrictive stance on gender identity has sparked criticism, particularly among LGBTQ+ advocates. The move not only limits recognition for non-binary individuals but also signals a broader shift in federal policies concerning gender identity.
While the number of passports with "X" markers remains unclear, the policy change has raised concerns about the rights and representation of individuals with non-binary and other gender identities.
The directive comes as part of the Trump administration's broader push against policies it views as promoting "gender ideology." Critics argue that the new order undermines recognition and protections for gender-diverse individuals.