Dana Zzyym, The Resident of Colorado, Who Got First US Gender X Passport
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Dana Zzyym received a text on their phone on Wednesday that notified them of delivery by the U.S. Department of state. They burst into excitement upon seeing that the new passport had “X” under the Gender column.
Just moved a step forward after years of struggle for proper representation.
Who is Dana Zzyym?
Dana Zzyym who goes by they/them pronouns, was born in 1958, they are a former Navy Veteran who now works as an intersex activist. They grew in an army household, where homophobia was quite prevalent. So how did Zzyym end up being a part of the queer community?
Dana Zzyym’s parents hid from them, the fact that they were intersex and approved for their surgeries. However, Zzyym served the navy as a male and came to know about the truth while they were studying at Colorado university.
Dana Zzyym filed this case years ago but the state department continuously refused to give them recognition. The new passport proved the years of struggle worth it. Zzyym couldn’t be happier and said, “It felt so good because this is who I am. This is my truth.” Their goal was to help the next generation of intersex people, so they don’t go through the same struggle.
The spokesperson for the department of US stated, “The Department of State continues the process of updating its policies. To better serve all U.S. citizens, regardless of their gender identity,”
Paul Castillo, Zzyym’s lawyer while commenting on the incident said-“After a six-year legal battle with three favourable court rulings, Dana has finally received an accurate U.S. passport. They showed incredible courage and perseverance throughout the case.” He also said that this is a significant day for them.
Why the Gender X passport?
Some people aren’t born with the proper Male or Female genitalia and they identify as intersex. While others do not identify with Male or Females and don’t like putting a label on themselves. The gender X passport will represent people who are intersex or non-binary.
As said by the Washington guidelines X represents, “a gender that is not exclusively male or female, including, but not limited to, intersex, agender, amalgagender, androgynous, bigender, demi gender, female-to-male, genderfluid, genderqueer, male-to-female, neutrois, nonbinary, pangender, third sex, transgender, transsexual, Two-Spirit, and unspecified.”
The United States is not the first country to give recognition to the people of this community. Australia, New Zealand, Nepal and Canada already provide this opportunity to their citizens.
This option will be available for the common public in 2022.
