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

Gulf Today Report

The United States announced, on Wednesday, that it has issued the first passport with an "X" mark on the gender field, in a move that is of great importance to people who reject their gender classification in the female and male categories.

The State Department said it had issued the first passport with an "X" in the gender field, an option it plans to make widely available in 2022 on passports and birth certificates for foreign-born Americans.

"I want to reiterate, on the occasion of this passport's issuance, the State Department's commitment to promoting the freedom, dignity, and equality of all people," State Department spokesman Edward Price said in a statement. Secretary of State Antony Blinken promised to address the issue in June, but cited technical obstacles that must be addressed.