On June 10, updated requirements went into effect for transgender people who wish to change the gender designation on their U.S. passports.
In the past, passports wouldn't be changed unless/until a person actually underwent sexual reassignment surgery and could prove it with a notarized letter from the surgeon. This, I believe, was unfair to the many transgender people who stop short of the surgery.
Under the new rules, all a person needs is a certification from an attending physician that the person has undergone "appropriate clinical treatment" for gender transition. A limited-validity passport is also available for people who are in the process of gender transition.
The new policy is based on recommendations by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), which is recognized by the American Medical Association as an authority in this field.
These changes happily coincide with the celebration of LGBT Pride Month.
Each step forward is a step worth celebrating.
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