Are Passports the New Battleground for Transgender Rights?

“They are trying to make a distinction between biological sex and gender. The larger question is why anyone should prove their gender.” —Janus Rose

ON SEPTEMBER 14, a sudden move by the State Department prompted a wave of anxiety among transgender Americans about a fresh assault on their rights.

Overnight, the department had changed the terms and language on its website affecting transgender applications for passports, only to swiftly (though partially) reverse course after the flood of protests that followed. The words “gender transition” had been changed to “sex transition” in several places, and helpful links to groups—including the American Medical Association—with information for transgender petitioners had been removed.

Under fire, the department claimed no changes had been made in official policy. It claimed the language tweaks were merely designed to bring the web page in line with government protocol. U.S. passports and passport applications have always used the term ‘sex’ as a marker, explained