New Policy on Gender Change in Passports Announced

Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC
June 9, 2010

The U.S. Department of State is pleased to use the occasion of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Pride Month to announce its new policy guidelines regarding gender change in passports and Consular Reports of Birth Abroad.

Beginning June 10, when a passport applicant presents a certification from an attending medical physician that the applicant has undergone appropriate clinical treatment for gender transition, the passport will reflect the new gender. The guidelines include detailed information about what information the certification must include. It is also possible to obtain a limited-validity passport if the physician’s statement shows the applicant is in the process of gender transition. No additional medical records are required. Sexual reassignment surgery is no longer a prerequisite for passport issuance. A Consular Report of Birth Abroad can also be amended with the new gender.

As with all passport applicants, passport issuing officers at embassies and consulates abroad and domestic passport agencies and centers will only ask appropriate questions to obtain information necessary to determine citizenship and identity.

The new policy and procedures are based on standards and recommendations of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), recognized by the American Medical Association as the authority in this field.

I contacted the Passport Help Line to get more information on what the guidelines are (which I can’t seem to find on the internet). The help desk person told me that since the press release was just made, it’s likely that he’s not updated on the information yet, but what he can tell us now is that you need to have documents to prove citizenship, a name change, your passport photograph needs to reflect your gender you are changing it to, and a letter from a physician detailing that you have undergone some kind of treatment. As regards to “detailing treatment” he was unable to elaborate and says perhaps that information will be available in the next week or two online.

UPDATE: This information is now available online at: State Dept. document on gender change now available: http://ow.ly/1WQry (It’s a PDF document that you can choose to download or view).

The Senate has just moved to add the Hate Crimes Bill, S. 909, to the Defense Authorization Act, which would guarantee its defeat. It is absolutely urgent that everyone contact their Senators today and tell them to save The Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act.
- National Center for Transgender Equality

You need to call your Senator NOW and ask them to save the hate crimes bill from certain death! If it’s added to the defense authorization bill it will be the death of hate crimes this year.

You can look up your Senator’s direct phone number here.

Or call (202) 224-3121 and tell them to SAVE THE HATE CRIMES BILL.

Here is an example letter that my partner sent to her senator:

Senator,

It is with the utmost urgency that I ask you to please save the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act, S.909, by refusing to attach it to the Defense Auth Act. This attachment will certainly mean the death of this incredibly important act that seeks to seeks to expand upon 1969 U.S. federal hate-crime law by extending its scope towards bodily crimes motivated by a victim’s actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability, in addition to the current provisions of bodily crimes motivated by a victim’s actual or perceived race, color, religion, and national origin. It would also codify and expand the funding and investigative capabilities of federal officials for aiding their local counterparts.

Myself, my friends, my family, and the lives of GLBT citizens depend on you to look out for them. Please do not attach S.909 to the Defense Auth Act.

Thank you for all your hardwork and dedication to improving the lives of Californians.

Sincerely,

Erin P.