Bill to Add Third Gender Option for Passports Introduced

Rep. Ro Khanna, representing California's Silicon Valley in the House of Representatives, introduced legislation Tuesday that could add a gender-neutral option for passports, passport cards, and Consular Reports of Birth Abroad.

If passed into law, the State Department would add a third option to mark on travel documents besides male and female: "(X) unspecified." Nearly a dozen other countries -- from Australia to Bangladesh -- already allow travelers to utilize the "X" option. The United Nations-run International Civil Aviation Organization currently recognizes the third option, meaning many customs and border officials are familiar with it.

For safety's sake though, the legislation does not require those who have gender-neutral state identification to list "(X) unspecified" on their passport.

"This allows gender-diverse Americans to make the best decision for themselves and their safety when traveling," according to a statement from Khanna's office.

Khanna's bill is "self-attesting" and does not require travelers to provide paperwork from doctors or mental health professionals confirming they don't identify as male or female.

"The ability to obtain accurate identity documents is imperative to the safety and wellbeing of LGBTQ people, and we thank Rep. Khanna for advancing this issue," David Stacy, Government Affairs Director for the Human Rights Campaign, said in a statement.

Trending stories

All 6 rogue Mississippi cops got long prison sentences in 'Goon Squad' torture of 2 Black men

Edmund White, queer literature trailblazer, dead at 85

Out and About with Christian Cooper

HRC holds 'die-in' to protest Trump health care cuts

'Overcompensating' star Holmes is getting flooded with DMs from 'mostly gay men'

WNBA rookie Maddy Westbeld hard launches relationship with college baller Olivia Miles

How climate disasters hurt mental health in young people

Wilderness, woods, and Wigstock: Drag icons light up the Catskills

26 celebs who came out in 2025 (so far)

Mistress Isabelle Brooks on snatching points & wigs: 'I'm your favorite villain'

Trump admin guts $258 million in funding for HIV vaccine research

Two right-wing Supreme Court justices signal they may uphold access to PrEP and more

Trailblazing lesbian-centric event The Dinah is coming to an end, as we know it, after 34 years​

France becomes world’s first country to enshrine abortion rights in constitution

Elon Musk uses burner accounts on X, doesn’t fact-check: report

Joe Biden has tied the record for most LGBTQ+ judges confirmed in federal courts

Rachel Levine fought HIV & STIs at HHS. Now she’s speaking out because that progress is being undone

Tim McGraw and Faith Hill's daughter, Gracie, clarifies her sexuality

Gays went feral at an iconic Pride celebration in Pensacola, Florida

Grindr is reminding us why jockstraps are so sexy and iconic

Pedro Pascal just made every gay & girlie's fantasy come true with three words

How a childhood camcorder led to my big queer Muslim Tribeca film

Trump waves goodbye to Pride, says June is now Title IX Month

Rising star LAVERN says LGBTQ+ ravers 'bring the fire' ahead of EDC performance

Checking out: nhow London, the city’s coolest hotel

• 0
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• 7
• 8

"Many members of the LGBTQ community identify as non-binary, and non-binary individuals deserve to have their gender acknowledged and accurately reflected on vital government documents like passports," Stacy added. "Non-binary people already face disproportionately high rates of discrimination, harassment, and violence, and this risk of harm is significantly exacerbated when forced to present incongruent legal documents that do not accurately reflect who they are."