First US passport issued with gender marker ‘X’

The US State Department's Ned Price writes that "The Department has issued the first U.S. passport with an X gender marker. We look forward to offering this option to all routine passport applicants once we complete the required system and form updates in early 2022. We will provide updates and information on our website: travel.state.gov/gender."

"The Department also continues to work closely with other U.S. government agencies to ensure as smooth a travel experience as possible for all passport holders, regardless of their gender identity," Price said as part of the announcement.

"I want to reiterate," Price concluded, "on the occasion of this passport issuance, the Department of State’s commitment to promoting the freedom, dignity, and equality of all people – including LGBTQI+ persons."

LGBTQI+ persons have always had the ability to travel without incident per the US State Department's issuance of passports, however, this new "X" designation means that the passports of LGBTQI+ persons will no longer contain as many identifying characteristics of persons who do not choose the X to represent their gender.

The announcement of this issuance comes one day after the Biden administration announced their latest missive on their efforts to tackle gender equality in the US, which many people across the country don't actually think is a problem.

The new strategy, announced by Vice President Kamala Harris on Twitter, intends to combat gender inequality according to "ten interconnected priorities."

These include "1) economic security; 2) gender-based violence; 3) health; 4) education; 5) justice and immigration; 6) human rights and equality under the law; 7) security and humanitarian relief; 8) climate change; 9) science and technology; and 10) democracy, participation, and leadership."

"These priorities are inherently linked and must be tackled in concert," the strategy reads.

The Biden administration stated that "This strategy is not just words on paper; it is a roadmap to deliver results for the American people and our partners around the world."

In addition to the option to delete biological sex from a citizen's federally issued identifying documents, the administration further seeks to help create gender equality through the elimination the word "mother," replacing it with "birthing person."