US airlines told to ignore ‘X’ gender markers on passports, sparking confusion and concern

A new directive from US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has ordered airlines to disregard the “X” gender marker on American passports and instead input either “M” (male) or “F” (female) when processing passenger information — a move that has caused anxiety and outrage among non-binary and transgender travellers.

The “X” designation, introduced in 2022 to recognise individuals whose gender identity is not exclusively male or female, remains legally valid on US passports. However, the CBP’s new policy effectively forces airlines to ignore it in their systems, creating uncertainty about how affected travellers will be handled at international borders.

Legal experts and advocacy groups say the change may not invalidate “X”-marked passports, but it could cause confusion at check-in and border control, especially for those flying internationally.

The rule does not apply to domestic flights or land border crossings. But Izenson warned that it could give airport agents “leeway to act on personal bias,” potentially leading to harassment or secondary screening for travellers whose appearance doesn’t match binary gender expectations.

A CBP spokesperson insisted that “foreign travellers with valid US documents are being processed as before” and that applicants for Trusted Traveler Programs must now select “male” or “female.” The agency said the rule does not affect a person’s eligibility for admission to the US.

Civil rights lawyers say the situation underscores the fragility of progress for gender-diverse individuals. Future legal challenges may hinge on how strictly airlines and border officers enforce the policy.

Advocates fear the rule is part of a wider rollback of protections for transgender and non-binary people under Executive Order 14168, which seeks to “restore biological truth” in federal documentation.

Source: The Guardian