History was made last month as the United States issued its first “X” gender-designated passport. This is a tremendous step in ensuring that the LGBTQI+ community is treated fairly, no matter how they identify.
Dana Zzyym from Colorado has been waiting years to select a gender-neutral marker on their passport and is thrilled that the time has finally come. Zzyym doesn’t identify as male or female and wanted their gender accurately expressed on their passport. Zzyym was previously denied a passport for refusing to identify as male or female on their application and instead asked for an “X” gender marker option.
“I had been asking the U.S. Passport Agency for an accurate passport since September 2014,” said Zzyym, “I was not asking for a special or unique passport just for me; I was asking for an accurate passport with a gender marker that reflected who I am. At the very least, I was looking for official paperwork that did not force me to identify as someone I am not.”
Though the “X” gender designation option is not yet available for every passport applicant, the U.S. Department of State website states that the option should become available sometime in 2022. This news comes after Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced earlier this year that United States passport holders would be able to select their gender as either male or female on their passport without having to show proof of their assigned gender.
If you have questions about obtaining a new passport or renewing your passport or are looking to change the gender marker on your passport, please don’t hesitate to contact us. A member of our compassionate staff will be happy to help!
To learn more about selecting your gender marker and to read up on the plans for a gender marker for non-binary, intersex, and gender non-conforming persons, visit the U.S. Department of State website.
