United States issues first passport with gender 'X' marker

In what is being seen as a milestone in recognizing the rights of those who don’t identify as male or female, the United States on October 27 issued its first passport with an ‘X’ gender designation.

The State Department said that it expects to be able to offer the option to nonbinary, intersex and gender-nonconforming people early next year.

The State Department, however, did not announce to whom the passport was issued due to privacy concerns.

Jessica Stern, the US special diplomatic envoy for LGBTQ rights welcomed this move calling it historic and celebratory. 

Stern said that this brings the government documents in line with the “lived reality” that there is a wider spectrum of human sex characteristics than is reflected in the previous two designations.

In June this year, the US State Department announced it was moving toward adding a third gender marker, but said it would take time because it required extensive updates to its computer systems. 

Also watch: Donald Trump unveils 'Truth Social'