US issues first gender-neutral passport
'My victory gives a lot of hope in my community,' says Dana Zzyym who was previously denied a passport after failing to mark male or female in an application.
The United States has issued its first gender-neutral passport. The document has an "X" in the gender box, signalling that the holder does not identify as either male or female.
It was issued to Dana Zzyym, a 66-year-old intersex activist, who sued the State Department over the issue in 2015. The US Navy veteran said it was "an exciting moment for me" after getting the new passport. "I get to go places and say 'yes, this is who I am'."
Zzyym, who identifies as non-binary and prefers the pronouns "they/them", was previously denied a passport after failing to mark male or female in an application. They told 蜜芽传媒 World Service's Newsday they feel there is a lot of hope in their community after winning the case.
鈥淭his lets me identify the truth of who I am. This is not just about me because for centuries society has hidden intersex people鈥檚 existence.鈥�
鈥淚 felt forcing the government to recognise that we exist on the basis of sex was a step-up to end the suffering. Now we can live openly.鈥�
(Pic: Dana Zzyym鈥檚 passport with an X in the gender box; Credit: Reuters)
Duration:
This clip is from
More clips from Newsday
-
![]()
'I immediately called my mother, I told her that I was alive'
Duration: 02:21
-
![]()
'People on both sides have suffered enough'
Duration: 04:44
