The National Lawyers Guild, Detroit & Michigan Chapter Comment on Proposed Changes to Passports

March 4, 2025

The National Lawyers Guild, Detroit & Michigan Chapter, strongly opposes the proposed changes to gender markers on passports and urges their immediate rejection.

When American citizens travel abroad, they rely on passports that accurately reflect their identities and match what foreign authorities see when they assess the passport holder. Any discrepancy between a traveler’s appearance and the information on their passport places them at heightened risk of detention, deportation, or worse. In certain countries, such discrepancies can lead to arrest, harassment, or even torture. Mandating that individuals carry passports reflecting their sex assigned at birth—rather than their accurate gender—creates unnecessary danger and serves no legitimate governmental purpose. Transgender and Intersex American citizens deserve the full protection and support of the United States government, just as all citizens do. The proposed changes, however, would expose these individuals to severe risks when traveling abroad.

Transgender and Intersex people have existed throughout recorded history and are recognized by leading medical and mental health organizations, including the American Medical Association and the American Psychological Association. Attempting to deny their existence through Executive Order and policy changes is as futile as decreeing that the sun sets in the east. The proposed changes are not based on science or necessity but instead reflect a discriminatory attempt to marginalize an already vulnerable population and relegate them to second-class status.

Such policies have no place in a civilized and democratic society. We urge you to reject these harmful changes and affirm the rights, dignity, and safety of all American citizens, regardless of gender identity.