US Passports to Eliminate 'X' as a Gender Option
The US State Department has halted the processing of passport applications that feature the X gender marker. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
President Donald Trump has announced that only two genders will be officially recognized by the U.S. government. This decision is part of a broader policy shift that includes the repeal of numerous executive orders implemented by his predecessor, Joe Biden, particularly those aimed at promoting racial equity and LGBTQ rights.
Reports from several American news outlets, citing a State Department spokesperson and internal communications, indicate that the department has halted the processing of passport applications that choose ‘X’ as a gender identifier. This move reverses a 2022 initiative that allowed individuals to identify as non-binary, intersex, or gender-nonconforming.
“In line with that Order, the Department’s issuance of US passports will reflect the individual’s biological sex as defined in the Executive Order,” a State Department spokesperson told CNN and AFP on Friday. They added that applications for passports with the ‘X’ marker have been suspended and that the department will cease issuing such documents.
For those who already possess passports with the ‘X’ identifier, the spokesperson mentioned that guidance is “forthcoming.” ABC News has reported, based on internal communications, that those passports will remain valid under the new guidelines. The outlet also noted that individuals contacting the State Department's National Passport Information Center with questions about the policy have been advised to await new guidance before proceeding with their applications, with further information expected to be released “in the coming days.” The State Department has declined to comment on ABC's reporting, citing a policy of not addressing leaked internal documents.
Trump's administration has framed its changes to diversity and inclusion policies as a means of eliminating bias in government initiatives. The order stipulating the recognition of only two genders aims to create “equal treatment” and has requested “a plan to dismantle the diversity, equity, and inclusion bureaucracy,” according to a Trump aide who spoke to the New York Post. Further actions affecting DEI efforts in private businesses are anticipated.
While some corporations have scaled back their DEI programs, companies like Costco and Apple continue to uphold their commitments. Others, including Meta, McDonald’s, and Walmart, have notably reduced their DEI initiatives. Meta has recently dissolved its DEI department due to changes in the legal and policy environment, McDonald’s has decreased diversity targets for its senior leadership, and Walmart has announced plans to phase out certain diversity terms and initiatives.
Civil rights organizations are prepared to contest these orders through both judicial action and public advocacy.
Thomas Evans contributed to this report for TROIB News
Reports from several American news outlets, citing a State Department spokesperson and internal communications, indicate that the department has halted the processing of passport applications that choose ‘X’ as a gender identifier. This move reverses a 2022 initiative that allowed individuals to identify as non-binary, intersex, or gender-nonconforming.
“In line with that Order, the Department’s issuance of US passports will reflect the individual’s biological sex as defined in the Executive Order,” a State Department spokesperson told CNN and AFP on Friday. They added that applications for passports with the ‘X’ marker have been suspended and that the department will cease issuing such documents.
For those who already possess passports with the ‘X’ identifier, the spokesperson mentioned that guidance is “forthcoming.” ABC News has reported, based on internal communications, that those passports will remain valid under the new guidelines. The outlet also noted that individuals contacting the State Department's National Passport Information Center with questions about the policy have been advised to await new guidance before proceeding with their applications, with further information expected to be released “in the coming days.” The State Department has declined to comment on ABC's reporting, citing a policy of not addressing leaked internal documents.
Trump's administration has framed its changes to diversity and inclusion policies as a means of eliminating bias in government initiatives. The order stipulating the recognition of only two genders aims to create “equal treatment” and has requested “a plan to dismantle the diversity, equity, and inclusion bureaucracy,” according to a Trump aide who spoke to the New York Post. Further actions affecting DEI efforts in private businesses are anticipated.
While some corporations have scaled back their DEI programs, companies like Costco and Apple continue to uphold their commitments. Others, including Meta, McDonald’s, and Walmart, have notably reduced their DEI initiatives. Meta has recently dissolved its DEI department due to changes in the legal and policy environment, McDonald’s has decreased diversity targets for its senior leadership, and Walmart has announced plans to phase out certain diversity terms and initiatives.
Civil rights organizations are prepared to contest these orders through both judicial action and public advocacy.
Thomas Evans contributed to this report for TROIB News
