Only Male and Female: Trump Targets LGBTQ+ Community and Denies the Existence of Trans and Nonbinary Individuals.
President Donald Trump has intensified his stance against the LGBTQ+ community, signing an executive order that eliminates gender-neutral markers in official documents, including passports, Social Security records, and other federal IDs.
The policy recognizes only male and female genders based on birth-assigned sex, effectively erasing recognition of transgender and nonbinary individuals—a group the President and Vice President J.D. Vance have repeatedly targeted, particularly transgender women.
In a dramatic reversal of inclusion policies, Trump’s executive order prohibits the use of non-binary gender markers on official documents. Effective immediately, new passport applications with the “X” gender marker and amendments to gender on existing passports are no longer accepted.
Order to eliminate nonbinary documents will be implemented immediately
The Department of State, led by Secretary Marco Rubio, announced the immediate implementation of these changes through an internal memo obtained by The Guardian. The directive states, “The policy of the United States is that a person’s sex is immutable.” Accordingly, gender-neutral markers and changes to recorded sex have been suspended across all official documentation.
The memo specifies that only “sex,” rather than “gender,” will be used in official records, including passports and consular reports of birth abroad. While existing passports with the “X” marker remain valid for now, guidance on renewals will be issued later.
The executive order, titled “Defending Women from the Ideological Extremism of Gender and Restoring Biological Truth in Federal Governance,” mandates that all government-issued IDs rely solely on a person’s unchangeable biological classification as male or female.
This move dismantles a landmark policy introduced in April 2022 under the Biden administration, which allowed individuals to select a nonbinary gender marker on passports. The initiative was widely celebrated by the LGBTQ+ community and human rights advocates as a step toward greater inclusivity for nonbinary and intersex individuals.
Although exact figures are unavailable, a significant number of Americans reportedly opted for the “X” marker since its implementation. Now, these passport holders face uncertainty regarding renewals and future travel.
Legal experts anticipate a wave of lawsuits, arguing that the policy discriminates against individuals based on gender identity and potentially violates constitutional rights.
The policy’s impact goes beyond travel documents. By redefining gender strictly in biological terms, the Trump administration has sent a strong signal about its broader stance on gender policies and civil rights.
Meanwhile, holders of “X” passports and advocacy groups are awaiting further clarification from the State Department as they prepare legal challenges to counteract the new policy.
