Canada to allow citizens to identify their gender as 'X' on passports

Transgender Canadians will no longer have to identify themselves as male of female on their passports thanks to a law set to be implemented later this month, CBC News reports.

Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen released a statement regarding the decision Thursday night.

"By introducing an 'X' gender designation in our government-issued documents, we are taking an important step towards advancing equality for all Canadians regardless of gender identity or expression," Hussen said in a statement.

Beginning Aug. 31, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will  allow people to identify themselves as having a gender that is unspecified, according to the report.

Under International Civil Aviation Organization rules, travelers must identify a sex, but are allowed to identify as male, female or X.

However, that doesn't mean Canadians will be allowed to use X as a gender identification when traveling internationally. The citizen will need to consult the federal government-issued travel advisories for that country before leaving Canada.

Other nations that allow for X to be used as gender identification include: Australia, Denmark, Germany, Malta, New Zealand and Pakistan. India, Ireland and Nepal also provide a third option.

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