Federal Court Halts Passport Gender Policy, Securing Travel Options for Coloradans
A federal judge has put a stop to a new administration policy that would have restricted how Coloradans and other Americans can identify their gender on U.S. passports. The ruling ensures that for now, local residents applying for a passport can continue to select male (M), female (F), or a non-specific gender marker (X), a decision that directly impacts traveling Colorado families, military personnel, and business owners.
For our communities in Colorado Springs and the Denver metro, this ruling provides immediate clarity. Many of our neighbors, including military families stationed at Fort Carson, Peterson Space Force Base, and the Air Force Academy, frequently travel internationally. This decision prevents a sudden policy change that could have created uncertainty and delays for those needing to secure or update travel documents for deployment, family visits, or business.
Details of the Court's Injunction
The issue stems from a January executive order that defined sex as strictly male or female based on assignment at birth, rejecting the concept of gender identity. This would have eliminated the 'X' gender marker on passports and potentially forced transgender applicants to use a marker that does not align with their identity. However, U.S. District Judge Julia Kobick issued a preliminary injunction, effectively pausing the policy while the lawsuit proceeds.
In her ruling, Judge Kobick sided with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which argued the policy was unconstitutional. The judge found the government failed to prove the policy was necessary for an important government interest.
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