Transgender Americans challenge Trump's restrictive passport policy

Transgender Americans are fighting against a passport policy change made by former President Donald Trump. The policy prohibits gender marker changes on passports, which many transgender and nonbinary individuals rely on to match their identities. Ash Lazarus Orr, a transgender organizer, experienced this firsthand when he applied for a passport renewal in January. He wants to change his name and sex designation, but the process has been delayed for over two months. This situation has stopped him from traveling to Ireland for essential gender-affirming care. Orr is one of seven plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the Trump administration, led by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). The lawsuit aims to block the policy while they fight it in court. Orr expressed concern that this policy not only affects his identification but also limits his freedom to travel. Other plaintiffs have faced similar problems. One woman received her passport back with a male designation, while another person fears submitting their application would lead to it being suspended. Many of them have already been mistreated due to their gender identities and worry that incorrect documents will lead to further discrimination. In response, the Trump administration argues that the passport policy is lawful and does not violate constitutional rights. They claim that plaintiffs are not harmed by the policy since they can still travel abroad. However, the ACLU emphasizes the right to accurate identification documents to prevent harassment and violence against transgender individuals. Under this policy, the State Department halted the issuance of passports with an "X" gender marker and stopped changing gender markers on existing passports. This move has drawn criticism, especially from those in the LGBTQI+ community. The decision is part of a broader trend of actions by Trump that may restrict rights and recognition for transgender and nonbinary people.