TSA announces gender-neutral screening process

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The Transportation Security Administration announced new gender-neutral changes to its airport screening process on Thursday that it says are both safe and efficient.

TSA Administrator David Pekoske said the new orders will streamline the security checkpoints for transgender, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming airline passengers.

“On this internationally recognized day for the transgender community, TSA is proud to announce significant initiatives as a direct result of close partnership with community stakeholders,” Pekoske said in a press release. “TSA will move swiftly to implement more secure and efficient screening processes that are gender neutral, as well as technological updates that will enhance security and make TSA PreCheck® enrollment more inclusive.”

‘X’ GENDER MARKER OPTION ADDED TO PASSPORTS BY STATE DEPARTMENT

Pekoske said the new changes will go into effect in the upcoming month and include reducing the amount of pat-down screenings and making pat-downs less invasive.

Other changes include streamlining identity validation by removing the gender consideration when validating passports, making the TSA PreCheck more inclusive by including an “X” marker on the application, and updating the “Transgender, Nonbinary, and Gender Nonconforming Passengers” webpage to relay the most accurate and current information on all gender-related updates, including the screening process and identity verification, according to the press release.

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The changes were announced on the annual International Transgender Day of Visibility, which celebrates the transgender community and raises awareness of the discrimination transgender people continue to face.

The State Department also celebrated the day by creating a gender “X” option on all passports. The new option will be available starting April 11. A gender “X” option is also expected to be available on other government paperwork later this year.

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