US Issues First Passport with 'X' Gender
2021-10-29
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1The United States has issued its first passport with an "X" sex, or gender, designation.
2The State Department said Wednesday that it expects to be able to offer the choice more widely next year.
3It is a major step in the recognition of the rights of people who do not consider themselves male or female.
4Jessica Stern is the Biden administration's special diplomatic representative for LGBTQ rights.
5She said it brings government documents in line with the "lived reality" that there are more sexes than just male or female.
6The agency did not announce who received the passport.
7But Dana Zzyym claimed ownership in a telephone call with The Associated Press.
8Zzyym added, "I'm not a problem. I'm a human being."
9Zzyym, an intersex activist from Colorado, has battled the agency since 2015.
10Zzyym was denied a passport for failing to choose male or female on official documents.
11Court documents say Zzyym wrote "intersex" above the boxes marked "M" and "F."
12In a separate letter, Zzyym requested an "X" designation for intersex.
13Zzyym was born without a definite gender.
14Court documents say Zzymm was raised as a boy and underwent several operations to appear fully male.
15Zzyym served in the Navy as a male but later came to identify as intersex while working and studying at Colorado State University.
16The State Department's denial of Zzyym's passport prevented Zzyym from being able to travel to a meeting of Organization Intersex International in Mexico.
17The State Department announced in June that it was moving toward adding a third gender designation for nonbinary, intersex, and gender-nonconforming people.
18A nonbinary person is someone whose gender identity is not completely male or female.
19A gender-nonconforming person is someone who does not follow the expected behaviors of their birth gender.
20The State Department said that adding a third gender designation would take time because it would require many changes to its computer system.
21An official said the passport document and system with the "X" designation still must be approved by the Office of Management and Budget.
22The agency now also permits individuals to choose if they are male or female.
23It no longer requires them to provide medical documents if their gender is not the same as what is listed on other official documents.
24The United States joins a small group of countries that permits citizens to choose a gender other than male or female on their passports.
25It includes Australia, New Zealand, Nepal, and Canada.
26Stern said her office planned to talk about the United States' experience with the change in its dealings with other countries.
27She hopes that it might push other governments to offer the X marker.
28"We see this as a way of affirming and uplifting the human rights of trans and intersex and gender-nonconforming and nonbinary people everywhere," she said.
29I'm Gregory Stachel.
1The United States has issued its first passport with an "X" sex, or gender, designation. 2The State Department said Wednesday that it expects to be able to offer the choice more widely next year. It is a major step in the recognition of the rights of people who do not consider themselves male or female. 3Jessica Stern is the Biden administration's special diplomatic representative for LGBTQ rights. She said it brings government documents in line with the "lived reality" that there are more sexes than just male or female. 4The agency did not announce who received the passport. But Dana Zzyym claimed ownership in a telephone call with The Associated Press. 5Zzyym added, "I'm not a problem. I'm a human being." 6Zzyym, an intersex activist from Colorado, has battled the agency since 2015. Zzyym was denied a passport for failing to choose male or female on official documents. Court documents say Zzyym wrote "intersex" above the boxes marked "M" and "F." In a separate letter, Zzyym requested an "X" designation for intersex. 7Zzyym was born without a definite gender. Court documents say Zzymm was raised as a boy and underwent several operations to appear fully male. 8Zzyym served in the Navy as a male but later came to identify as intersex while working and studying at Colorado State University. 9The State Department's denial of Zzyym's passport prevented Zzyym from being able to travel to a meeting of Organization Intersex International in Mexico. 10The State Department announced in June that it was moving toward adding a third gender designation for nonbinary, intersex, and gender-nonconforming people. A nonbinary person is someone whose gender identity is not completely male or female. A gender-nonconforming person is someone who does not follow the expected behaviors of their birth gender. 11The State Department said that adding a third gender designation would take time because it would require many changes to its computer system. An official said the passport document and system with the "X" designation still must be approved by the Office of Management and Budget. 12The agency now also permits individuals to choose if they are male or female. It no longer requires them to provide medical documents if their gender is not the same as what is listed on other official documents. 13The United States joins a small group of countries that permits citizens to choose a gender other than male or female on their passports. It includes Australia, New Zealand, Nepal, and Canada. 14Stern said her office planned to talk about the United States' experience with the change in its dealings with other countries. 15She hopes that it might push other governments to offer the X marker. 16"We see this as a way of affirming and uplifting the human rights of trans and intersex and gender-nonconforming and nonbinary people everywhere," she said. 17I'm Gregory Stachel. 18Colleen Slevin reported this story for The Associated Press. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English. Susan Shand was the editor. 19____________________________________________________________________ 20Words in This Story 21gender - n. the state of being male or female 22LGBTQ - acronym. lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer 23intersex - adj. used for multiple conditions in which a person is born with reproductive or sexual biology that does not seem to fit usual definitions of male or female 24affirm - v. to show a strong belief in or dedication to (something, such as an important idea) 25trans - adj. used to describe someone who has a gender that is different from the one given to them at birth