As Ghanaians seek to criminalize LGBTQI+ in the country, the United States announced on Wednesday (October 27th) that it had issued the first passport with the gender “X” to a person who does not identify with traditional “Male” or “Female” choices.

The decision was made in accordance with Joe Biden’s promises to better take into account the rights of sexual minorities.

The US State Department has “added an X box for non-binary, intersex people” and more broadly those who do not identify with the gender criteria proposed so far, announced its spokesperson Ned Price.

This new option will be offered to all passport applicants from early 2022, he said, reaffirming the commitment of American diplomacy to “promote the freedom, dignity and equality of all people”.

Human rights organization ACLU said it was a “turning point” but also pledged to “continue to work with the Biden government to ensure proper gender choices are available on all documents. ‘identity’.

An example to follow in other countries?

The Human Rights Campaign, which advocates for the rights of sexual minorities, also hailed a “historic” measure, and called on the United States to “encourage other governments around the world” to follow this example.

At least eleven other countries, including Canada, Germany and Argentina but also India or Pakistan, offer the choice “X” or “other” in their passports, according to the organization Employers Network for Equality and Inclusion , headquartered in London.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken already relaxed the rules in June by allowing US citizens to choose their gender on their passports themselves.

Previously, people who wanted to register a different kind than their birth certificate had to provide a medical certificate.

Democrat Joe Biden has made defending the rights of sexual minorities around the world a priority, more than any other President of the United States before him and at odds with his predecessor Donald Trump.

Meanwhile, a bill has been tabled in the Ghanaian parliament. The text suggests that homosexuality, already banned, should be criminalized, while penalizing support for LGBTQ people.

A rally was organised in New York against a controversial bill being proposed in Ghana’s parliament that would make identifying as LGBTQIA or an ally a criminal offense punishable by up to 10 years in prison. © AP


Human rights defenders point to the risk of an upsurge in persecution against this community in this country already experiencing a wave of homophobia.

Source: AfrikPage