Bill to Add Third Gender Option for Passports Introduced

Rep. Ro Khanna, representing California's Silicon Valley in the House of Representatives, introduced legislation Tuesday that could add a gender-neutral option for passports, passport cards, and Consular Reports of Birth Abroad.

If passed into law, the State Department would add a third option to mark on travel documents besides male and female: "(X) unspecified." Nearly a dozen other countries -- from Australia to Bangladesh -- already allow travelers to utilize the "X" option. The United Nations-run International Civil Aviation Organization currently recognizes the third option, meaning many customs and border officials are familiar with it.

For safety's sake though, the legislation does not require those who have gender-neutral state identification to list "(X) unspecified" on their passport.

"This allows gender-diverse Americans to make the best decision for themselves and their safety when traveling," according to a statement from Khanna's office.

Khanna's bill is "self-attesting" and does not require travelers to provide paperwork from doctors or mental health professionals confirming they don't identify as male or female.

"The ability to obtain accurate identity documents is imperative to the safety and wellbeing of LGBTQ people, and we thank Rep. Khanna for advancing this issue," David Stacy, Government Affairs Director for the Human Rights Campaign, said in a statement.

"Many members of the LGBTQ community identify as non-binary, and non-binary individuals deserve to have their gender acknowledged and accurately reflected on vital government documents like passports," Stacy added. "Non-binary people already face disproportionately high rates of discrimination, harassment, and violence, and this risk of harm is significantly exacerbated when forced to present incongruent legal documents that do not accurately reflect who they are."