To the U.S. Department of State, Members of Congress, and Relevant International Authorities:

We, the undersigned, respectfully petition for the expansion, protection, and formal recognition of multiple gender marker options on United States passports. This request aligns with widely recognized human‑rights principles, established international practices, and the growing consensus among legal experts, civil‑rights organizations, and global travel authorities that identity documents must accurately reflect the individuals they serve.

I. Purpose of the Petition
The purpose of this petition is to urge the United States government to adopt and maintain a passport policy that includes multiple gender marker options—such as M, F, X, and any additional designations deemed necessary—based on self‑attestation, without medical, psychological, or legal gatekeeping. This policy change is intended to ensure accuracy, safety, and dignity for all U.S. citizens during domestic and international travel.

II. Legal and Administrative Basis
Numerous legal scholars and advocacy groups have noted that accurate identity documentation is essential for:

compliance with federal nondiscrimination principles
consistency across government records
the prevention of administrative errors and travel complications
the protection of individuals from unnecessary disclosure of personal information
Internationally, countries including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, India, Nepal, and others have implemented additional gender markers without disruption to border security, biometric verification, or international travel protocols. These precedents demonstrate that such policies are administratively feasible and compatible with global travel systems.

III. Issues Identified by Civil‑Rights and Human‑Rights Organizations
Organizations working in the fields of civil rights, immigration, and international human rights have documented the following concerns:

Inaccurate documentation creates risk.
 When a passport’s gender marker does not align with a traveler’s lived identity or presentation, individuals may face heightened scrutiny, delays, or involuntary disclosure of personal information.
Safety concerns at borders and checkpoints.
 Reports from human‑rights groups indicate that mismatched documents can lead to discriminatory treatment, invasive questioning, or compromised personal safety.
Administrative inefficiency.
 Restrictive gender marker policies create inconsistencies across federal, state, and international systems, complicating verification processes rather than simplifying them.
Global alignment.
 As more nations adopt inclusive gender marker policies, the United States risks falling out of alignment with emerging international standards for identity recognition and human‑rights protections.
IV. Requested Policy Actions
This petition respectfully requests that the United States government:

Formally recognize multiple gender markers on passports, including but not limited to M, F, and X.
Adopt a self‑attestation model, consistent with recommendations from civil‑rights organizations, allowing individuals to select their gender marker without requiring medical documentation.
Implement a streamlined correction process for existing passport holders seeking to update their gender marker.
Provide training for border, TSA, and consular personnel to ensure consistent, respectful, and nondiscriminatory treatment of travelers with diverse gender identities.
Coordinate with international partners to ensure that expanded gender marker options remain compatible with global travel systems and international agreements.
V. Global Significance
International human‑rights bodies have emphasized that accurate identity documentation is essential for:

freedom of movement
personal safety
access to services
nondiscrimination protections
By expanding gender marker options, the United States would join a growing global movement recognizing that identity documentation must reflect the diversity of the people it represents.

VI. Conclusion
For the reasons outlined above, we respectfully urge the United States government to expand and protect multiple gender marker options on passports. This policy change is consistent with international best practices, supported by legal and human‑rights research, and essential for ensuring that all citizens can travel with documents that accurately reflect their identity.

We call upon policymakers, federal agencies, and international partners to take action.