Trans, nonbinary Americans' passports remain in limbo

[Jessica_Rose]

'I feel like I'm stuck here': Trans, nonbinary Americans' passports remain in limbo

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/news/i-feel-like-i-m-stuck-here-trans-nonbinary-americans-passports-remain-in-limbo/ar-AA1y1q9m?ocid=windirect&cvid=eb767884c0ee441a90bdf470e57e05c4&ei=15

Story by Kathleen Wong (28 Jan 2025)

It's been almost eight weeks since Texas-based Patrick sent in his passport application. There has been no word on whether it'll be approved or not. Meanwhile, some of his most vital documents are being held by the government.

Among President Donald Trump's wave of executive orders when he assumed office was for the federal government to "recognize only two sexes, male and female," and that "these sexes are not changeable." Government agencies, including the U.S. State Department, are currently enforcing the policy for all government-issued identification documents like visas, passports, and Global Entry cards.

Not only does this put Patrick's honeymoon on indefinite hold, but it also generates doubts and fear. "In the event I need to seek asylum somewhere, I can't leave the country," he said. "I feel like I'm stuck here."

"I know how proud quite a number of people are of the names and identities, and how dehumanizing and robbing of agency it is," said Violet, a transgender woman who had mailed in their passport application on Jan. 16... As of Monday, the status of her application remains processing.

"In my mind, this isn't about just simply holding people's stuff up in transit," she said. "It's not a simple transfer of administration. It's targeting specific groups and doing specific things with deliberate intentions."

[Lori Dee]

Marco Rubio issued the order to the State Department to comply with Trump's Executive Orders.

'...the memo continues, the State Department will no longer issue "X" sex markers for U.S. passports or birth records for U.S. citizens with children born abroad. It directs employees to suspend all applications requesting an "X" sex marker or a sex marker change, adding that employees should "not take any further action" on those applications "pending additional guidance from the Department."'
Source: NBC News

The sad part is that the cases are not flat out denied, but on hold indefinitely, and the government then has possession of other identification documents.

I am glad that I got my passport when I did. I'm still waiting for my birth certificate to come back from Pennsylvania with needed corrections.

[Miharu Barbie]

Hi Jessica Rose,

This article is very unnerving. I do have a birth certificate and a passport with the correct name and gender on both. My birth certificate was corrected in 2000, and my passport was issued for the first time in 2004; I never had a passport with my dead name or gender. Unfortunately my passport is 11 years expired. I've been thinking about getting a new passport, but I'm concerned that I will be blocked by the new government policies. I'm kind of frozen with indecision right now.

Maybe I'll try to get a state issued Real ID first. As a brown-skinned trans woman I'm currently carrying my expired passport, my birth certificate and my social security card with me at all times, just in case I'm stopped by a federal thug who demands to see my citizenship papers.

What a disgrace!

😡
Miharu