On Wednesday, local time, the U.S. State Department announced that it had issued the first passport marked with x, that is, passport holders did not define their gender as male or female as customary. The Associated Press reported that this is a milestone in the history of sexual minorities (LGBTQs) in their pursuit of rights protection. Jessica Stern, the State Department's LGBTQ special envoy for rights, called the move historic and celebratory, making the government-issued document fit with the "living reality" that there is a broader spectrum of gender identity in society that exceeds previous gender definitions. The U.S. State Department did not disclose the names of X-gender passport holders, and more such passports are expected to be released next year. (Reporter Chang Jun)
Source: China Daily