[Washington, D.C.] – Secretary of State Marco Rubio has released a memo ordering the suspension of all passport applications to change sex markers or request an “X” marker. The memo cites a 2017 executive order from President Trump, which asserts that the U.S. government recognizes only two sexes – male and female – and that these are unchangeable and based on “incontrovertible reality.”
A4TE Executive Director, Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen, released the following statement:
“The State Department is currently refusing to issue accurate gender markers on new or renewed passports for trans Americans. The timeline for the release of an updated policy on passport gender markers is still unclear. In the meantime, trans individuals are advised to proceed with caution when applying for or renewing their passports.
“These attacks are nothing but a selfish effort to divide and distract us. The American people are fed up with the endless cycle of petty, harmful politics. Right now, countless Americans are working hard just to get by, while the Trump administration and his allies fuel fear and target the trans community. Our leaders should be tackling the challenges affecting us all, not waging culture wars. We need leaders who focus on real solutions for the people, not division.
“Trump and his allies want to control our lives and dictate what it means to be a man or a woman. We’ve already seen the harmful effects of trying to rigidly define gender—an effort that hurts all women and girls, both cis and trans. Forcing people to fit into outdated gender norms only holds us back. We refuse to go back to a time when trans people had to hide, and when harmful, antiquated ideas about identity were used to oppress everyone.
“Trans, nonbinary, and intersex people are living proudly across the country, and nothing Donald Trump does can change that. During his last term, his administration tried to erase trans people from government websites and federal law, but we refused to be silenced. While many trans people are understandably frustrated and anxious, we’ve always been here – and we’re not going anywhere. We’re ready to fight for the rights and protections of our community.”
About A4TE
Advocates for Trans Equality (A4TE) is an organization that fights for the legal and political rights of transgender people in the United States. Introduced in July 2024 after the Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund and the National Center for Transgender Equality merged, A4TE is the largest trans-led advocacy organization in the U.S. and brings together experts, advocates, and communities to shift government and society toward an equitable future where trans people live joyful lives without barriers.