Summary
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection has implemented a rule requiring airlines to ignore "X" gender markers on passports and instead use "M" for male or "F" for female. This rule is in line with an executive order from President Trump. The court upheld the validity of passports with "X" markers, even as the rule creates complications for travel involving these documents.
Key Facts
- Airlines must ignore "X" gender markers on passports, following a rule by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
- This change comes from an executive order by President Trump titled "Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government."
- The "X" marker for gender was available on U.S. passports starting in 2022.
- Passports with "X" markers are still valid travel documents, following a federal court order.
- President Trump's administration has moved to roll back some protections for transgender individuals.
- The "X" gender marker allowed individuals to self-identify their gender without needing medical documentation.
- Airlines are instructed to input "M" or "F" if a passport shows an "X" gender marker.
