Biden administration suggests it will add 'X' gender markers to federal documents
The ACLU has been in talks with the Biden White House about the change, which would allow nonbinary and intersex people to get passports that reflect who they are.
www.usatoday.com
After years of lobbying and lawsuits, nonbinary and intersex people may finally be getting passports that reflect who they are: LGBTQ advocates have been in talks with the Biden administration about executive action to add "X" gender markers to all federal documents, including passports and Social Security cards, according to the ACLU.
The White House declined to offer a timeline for the rollout or comment on how the policy might be implemented. But Matt Hill, a spokesperson at the White House, said President Joe Biden remains committed to issuing nonbinary IDs, a promise he made during his campaign.
"Transgender and non-binary people without identification documents that accurately reflect their gender identity are often exposed to harassment and violence and denied employment, housing, critical public benefits, and even the right to vote," his campaign website said.
Biden vowed to address the issue and build on the legacy of the Obama administration, which began allowing transgender people to update their passports after transitioning.
Biden has already made good on several campaign promises made to the LGBTQ community: rolling back the transgender military ban, signing an executive order to enforce the Supreme Court's landmark LGBTQ employment ruling, and nominating Pete Buttigieg and Dr. Rachel Levine. Buttigieg became the first out gay Cabinet member to go before the Senate to be confirmed for presidential appointment; Levine, who has not yet been confirmed, would become the first trans official to do so.