Gender, Identity, and Official IDs
March 13, 2020
In February, Representative Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) introduced the Gender Inclusive Passport Act (H.R. 5962) in the House of Representatives. The legislation currently has 25 cosponsors, all of them Democrats.1 If the bill becomes law, it would create a third gender designation on U.S. passports—unspecified (X)—to join the existing designations of male (M) and female (F).2
Currently, 15 states and the District of Columbia offer non-binary gender designations on identification cards, such as driver’s licenses.3 Some airlines are also moving to add alternative gender designations to their booking processes.4 At least ten other countries have non-binary gender options on their passports.5
“Respecting every American’s gender must extend to travel abroad,” said Khanna. “The freedom to move and express yourself no matter what should be guaranteed in this country. … Everyone in this country should have the freedom to express their preferred gender on passports.”6
Dana Zzyym, for example, has been unable to get a passport because they chose not to select either male (M) or female (F) when applying for a passport. Lambda Legal, arguing on behalf of Zzyym, stated, “Dana Zzyym just wants an accurate passport, an essential identity document that accurately reflects who they are. Yet, the State Department seems to be urging Dana to lie in order to exercise their right to travel.”7 One of Zzyym’s attorneys said, “Incredibly, the U.S. State Department is in effect requiring that Dana lie on the application form in order for them to get a passport. … Dana has been forced to challenge the State Department in court and, over the past several years, had to forgo multiple opportunities to present at international conferences because they cannot lawfully exit the country.”8
Opposition to Khanna’s bill largely hinges on the cost of implementation and security concerns. “In order to ensure that even a single passport issued to Plaintiff with an ‘X’ sex designation functions properly like a passport with an ‘M’ or ‘F’ designation, a host of modifications would be required to the entire system for issuing passports and recording their information,” the State Department noted in a legal brief. “The Department estimates these modifications would take approximately 24 months and cost roughly $11 million.”9
While the number of cosponsors for increased passport gender options continues to grow, it is unclear whether or not it will garner enough support to become law.
Students and teachers can learn more about the Gender Inclusive Passport Act and contact their members of Congress to weigh in by clicking here.
Discussion Questions
- What role do official IDs play in your life?
- Do you think your state should adopt gender non-binary designations on its official IDs? If your state already has these designations, how have they changed things?
- If you were a member of Congress, how high a priority would this issue be for you?
- If you were voting on this bill, how would you vote? Why?
Featured Image Credit: https://www.thedailybeast.com/california-state-capitol-flies-lgbt-pride-flag-for-first-time-eve
[1] Library of Congress: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/5962/cosponsors?r=4&s=1&searchResultViewType=expanded&KWICView=false
[2] Library of Congress: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/5962/text?r=4&s=1
[3] Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2020/02/24/passports-gender-netural-x-marker/
[4] Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2019/03/22/united-becomes-first-us-airline-offer-non-binary-gender-booking-options-including-mx/
[5] Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2020/02/24/passports-gender-netural-x-marker/
[6] Vox: https://www.vox.com/2020/2/25/21152857/nonbinary-gender-neutral-passport
[7] Lambda Legal: https://www.lambdalegal.org/news/co_20200122_lambda-legal-tenth-circuit-rule-intersex-veteran-passport
[8] Vox: https://www.vox.com/2020/2/25/21152857/nonbinary-gender-neutral-passport
[9] GovTrack: https://govtrackinsider.com/gender-inclusive-passport-act-would-allow-a-third-option-labelled-x-instead-of-male-or-a7b963159a3
Since approx. 99.99% of people are biologically either male or female, it is illogical to allow people to arbitrarily declare themselves to be any sex. The rare exception proves the rule, not vice versa.
Thank you for sharing your views.