Study: Estimated 1.4% ’Nonbinary LGBTQ Adults’ In U.S. Might Request ‘Gender-X’ On Passports

A new study by UCLA’s School of Law Williams Institute estimated how many “nonbinary LGBTQ adults” living in the United States “might request” a “Gender-X” marking on their U.S. passports.

The report noted, “We estimate that 1.4% of the nonbinary LGBTQ population in the U.S., or 16,700 people, may request passports with an X gender marker each year. This estimate is based upon current demand for X gender markers on driver’s licenses in states which allow such an option.”

The report explained, “the average number of driver’s licenses with X gender markers issued per year in the 18 states with available data (13,804) was multiplied by 0.425 to create an estimate of how many passports with X gender markers may be requested and issued per year in these states (5,866).”

This estimate was then “divided by the total population of nonbinary LGBTQ people ages 18-60 estimated to live in these states, to create an estimated percentage of nonbinary LGBTQ people who would request passports with an X gender marker per year (1.37%).”

The percentage was multiplied by the total estimated amount “of nonbinary LGBTQ people ages 18-60 in the United States (1,219,000), to create an estimate of the number of passports with X gender markers that may be requested or issued per year (16,700).”

The report noted that it includes several assumptions when determining the estimated amount. It also pointed out how it did not consider any changes in desire for the “X” marker over the future, noting how the younger demographic is more likely to “identify as nonbinary” than people who are older. 

The Hill reported that 21 states and the District of Columbia currently permit residents to choose an ‘X’ gender marker on driver’s licenses.

As The Daily Wire reported last week, starting this month, U.S. citizens can select “X” as their gender on their passport instead of choosing male or female.

Jessica Stern, U.S. special diplomatic envoy for LGBTQ rights, stated that humans “do not always fit within a male or female category around the world,” during her announcement about the rollout of the “X” addition.

“The addition of a third gender marker propels the U.S. forward toward ensuring that our administrative systems account for the diversity of gender identity, gender expression and sex characteristics among U.S. citizens,” she added.

In June of last year, Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed changes to policy, saying the State Department “will be taking further steps toward ensuring the fair treatment of LGBTQI+ U.S. citizens, regardless of their gender or sex, by beginning the process of updating our procedures for the issuance of U.S. Passports and Consular Reports of Birth Abroad (CRBA).”

“Most immediately, we will be updating our procedures to allow applicants to self-select their gender as ‘M’ or ‘F’ and will no longer require medical certification if an applicant’s self-selected gender does not match the gender on their other citizenship or identity documents.  The Department has begun moving towards adding a gender marker for non-binary, intersex, and gender non-conforming persons applying for a passport or CRBA,” he added.

The TSA is also updating its policy for gender markers on its “TSA PreCheck” system. 

The TSA stated, “Beginning in April 2022, a TSA PreCheck® applicant can select the gender they would like saved in their TSA PreCheck® record simply by selecting ‘M’ or ‘F’ during the enrollment / renewal process. The gender selected does not need to match the gender on supporting documentation, such as birth certificate, passport, or state-issued ID.” 

“TSA PreCheck® is also working to include an ‘X’ gender marker option on its application to ensure the TSA PreCheck® program accurately reflects traveler gender and keeps pace with identity documents that offer the ‘X’ gender marker option.  TSA expects this update to be complete by the end of this year,” it added. 

The move comes as the Biden administration continues to push for more policies promoting transgenderism. 

Last week, on the “Transgender Day of Visibility,” the Biden administration released a statement saying: 

Every American deserves the freedom to be themselves. But far too many transgender Americans still face systemic barriers, discrimination, and acts of violence. Today, the Administration once again condemns the proliferation of dangerous anti-transgender legislative attacks that have been introduced and passed in state legislatures around the country. 

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