U.S. To Add Third Gender Option to Passports

A piece of good news for this Pride Season! on June 30, Anthony Blinken, the U.S. Secretary of State announced that the State Department will be adding a third gender option on passport applications. Previously only male and female could be selected. This rigidity discriminated against nonbinary, intersex and gender nonconforming individuals.

The time frame and process for adding a third gender option has not been established as research is being conducted to determine how best to facilitate the required system updates.

In a further bit of good news, Mr. Blinken announced that effective immediately U.S. passport applicants may select male or female without a doctor’s certification even if that gender does not match the one on their birth certificate.

For Mr. Blinken’s official statement go HERE.

These announcements are important wins for the transgender and queer communities. Up to this point, the U.S. was behind countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Denmark and India which all allow a third gender option.