[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/the-state-department-will-add-a-third-gender-option-to-u-s-passports\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/the-state-department-will-add-a-third-gender-option-to-u-s-passports\/","headline":"The State Department will add a third gender option to U.S. passports","name":"The State Department will add a third gender option to U.S. passports","description":"Lambda Legal Plaintiff Dana Zzyym has spent six years in a legal battle with the U.S. government fighting to accurately display their gender on their passport.","datePublished":"2021-07-02","dateModified":"2021-07-02","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/author\/molly\/#Person","name":"Molly Sprayregen","url":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/author\/molly\/","identifier":10507,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/a4b52e7bcebea6609440323eb32980a14e8a6ccf671ae2146179b833cd80eed4?s=96&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/a4b52e7bcebea6609440323eb32980a14e8a6ccf671ae2146179b833cd80eed4?s=96&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Equally Wed","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"http:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/equally-wed-lgbtq-weddings-logo.jpg","url":"http:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/equally-wed-lgbtq-weddings-logo.jpg","width":218,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/nicole-harrington-62045-unsplash-e1552464342209.jpg","url":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/nicole-harrington-62045-unsplash-e1552464342209.jpg","height":696,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/the-state-department-will-add-a-third-gender-option-to-u-s-passports\/","about":["Destination Weddings","Honeymoons"],"wordCount":378,"keywords":["Antony Blinken","Dana Zzyym","Lambda Legal","State Department","U.S. Passports","X gender marker"],"articleBody":"On Wednesday, the U.S. State Department announced groundbreaking policy changes that will allow LGBTQ+ people to accurately express their gender on passports.A press release explained that effective immediately, passport applicants will be able to select ‘Male’ or ‘Female’ on passports with no medical proof required, even if the gender doesn’t match an applicant’s other legal documents.The announcement also said it is “moving towards” adding an ‘X’ gender marker for non-binary, intersex, and gender non-conforming people.The Department did not release a specific timeline of when that will happen. The press release said the implementation of a third option is “technologically complex and will take time for extensive systems updates. ”“The Department will also be working closely with its interagency partners to ensure as smooth a travel experience as possible for the passport holder,” the release added.The decision comes in large part due to the efforts of Lambda Legal Plaintiff Dana Zzyym, a nonbinary U.S. Navy veteran, who has spent six years in a legal battle with the U.S. government fighting to accurately display their gender on their passport.In\u00a0 statement, Zzym expressed excitement about the State Department’s announcement.“I\u2019ve been at this fight for so long,\u201d Zzyym said. \u201cI am optimistic that, with the incredible support and work of Lambda Legal and the Intersex Campaign for Equality, I will soon receive an accurate passport. One that reflects who I truly am; and that will allow for me to present in person at the several international conferences to which I\u2019ve been invited to present on issues confronting intersex people.\u201dLambda Legal Counsel Paul D. Castillo added, \u201cThe update to the State Department\u2019s policy has been a long time coming and is prompted in large part by three separate court rulings in Dana\u2019s favor. Dana showed incredible courage and perseverance throughout, and it is rewarding now to see the light at the end of the tunnel.”“With today\u2019s announcement, countless intersex, nonbinary, and other gender-diverse United States passport applicants will at last get the accurate passports they need,” Castillo continued. “As important, self-certification of their identity removes unnecessary barriers and makes accurate IDs accessible to more people, reducing discrimination, harassment, and violence aimed at transgender people.\u201d"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"The State Department will add a third gender option to U.S. passports","item":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/the-state-department-will-add-a-third-gender-option-to-u-s-passports\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]