United States issues its 1st passport with 'X' gender marker

[George II]

Source: Associated Press

By COLLEEN SLEVIN

DENVER (AP) — The United States has issued its first passport with an “X” gender designation — a milestone in the recognition of the rights of people who don’t identify as male or female — and expects to be able to offer the option more broadly next year, the State Department said Wednesday.

The U.S. special diplomatic envoy for LGBTQ rights, Jessica Stern, called the moves historic and celebratory, saying they bring the government documents in line with the “lived reality” that there is a wider spectrum of human sex characteristics than is reflected in the previous two designations.

“When a person obtains identity documents that reflect their true identity, they live with greater dignity and respect,” Stern said.

The department did not announce to whom the passport was issued. A department official declined to say whether it was for Dana Zzyym, an intersex Colorado resident who has been in a legal battle with the department since 2015, saying the department does not usually discuss individual passport applications because of privacy concerns.


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/us-passports-x-gender-designation-2c29e18fc6566d549b9a06fda0857602

[Hekate]

1. 1st Rec

[PoliticAverse]

2. Why have gender on passports at all? n/t

[RobinA]

3. Identification n/t

*

[PoliticAverse]

4. How does gender "identify" someone who is "X"? n/t

[Steelrolled]

6. I think an "X" will get you greater scrutiny.

That's why I would think a lot of people wouldn't chose to do it.

[PoliticAverse]

7. There are some countries around the world you wouldn't want to identify as X when entering...

same as you wouldn't want them to know your sexual orientation if you weren't heterosexual.

If we really want a more gender neutral society I think we should end the requirement for people to identify their gender whenever it isn't really necessary.

[Steelrolled]

8. Agreed. I think the "X" thing is not beneficial, so just remove sex altogether.

Might need to get some international cooperation for this, if there are treaties about passports.

[NullTuples]

9. Currently 15 nations recognize X

Argentina, Austria, Australia, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Malta, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, India and Nepal.

[RobinA]

14. I Don't Think

it's beneficial either, but if people want to do it, have at it. I would keep gender on passports and let those who chose to go with the X that choice. The passport is a gold standard in IDs and it should probably stay that way. As it is, the only immutable thing on a passport is whether or not the person has an XX or XY chromosome. People who don't want to go with that have the option, but people who want an ironclad ID should also have that choice. Of course, we could put a whole DNA map on each passport, which would make the gender issue moot and really cement the gold standard ID, but I have a feeling some people would object to that.

[RobinA]

13. It Doesn't

The question I was answering was about why gender was on passports. It was on there to identify the person. It will not be used to identify people with the new designation.

[cbabe]

5. Excellent way to

avoid the draft as only males must register. Stupid law.

[NullTuples]

10. Are you serious? That's right up there with...

"Transgenders [sic] just want to get into women's locker rooms!"

in terms of BS that completely misses the point and spews hyperbole.

[RobinA]

15. You Weren't Around

during Vietnam, were you? People did a lot more drastic things than claim to be a different gender to avoid that war.

[NullTuples]

16. You Haven't Been Around

these last 15 years, have you? Conservative religious republicans have used that argument as one of their favorite scare fantasies to try to stop trans people from being allowed to use the correct bathroom. And seeing as that is very relevant but currently the draft is not, I'd say the original statement is more likely to be applied to anti-trans sentiment.

[NullTuples]

11. Passports have only had gender markers since 1977

https://www.thedailybeast.com/how-the-rise-of-androgyny-changed-our-passports

[sakabatou]

12. So, how many right-wing heads have exploded?