Transgender Americans Aim To Block Trump's Passport Policy Change

When Ash Lazarus Orr went to renew his passport in early January, the transgender organizer figured it would be relatively routine.

But more than two months on, Orr is waiting to get a new passport with a name change and a sex designation reflecting who he is. The delay has prevented him from traveling overseas to receive gender-affirming care this month in Ireland since he refuses to get a passport that lists an "inaccurate sex designation."

Orr blames the delay on President Donald Trump, who on the day he took office issued an executive order banning the use of the "X" marker as well as the changing of gender markers. The order says a person is male or female and it rejects the idea that someone can transition from the sex assigned at birth to another gender.

"This is preventing me from having an accurate identification and the freedom to move about the country as well as internationally," said Orr, who is among seven plaintiffs - five transgender Americans and two nonbinary plaintiffs - who have sued the Trump administration in federal court over the policy. "This has really, truly impeded on my life and my freedom as well ... The government is questioning who I am as a trans person."

The American Civil Liberties Union is suing the federal government on their behalf and will be in court Tuesday in Boston seeking a preliminary injunction, which would put the policy on hold while the lawsuit proceeds in court.