In a significant legal development, a federal judge in Boston has partially blocked the Trump administration’s policy that sought to prohibit nonbinary “X” gender markers and changes to gender markers on U.S. passports. U.S. District Judge Julia Kobick granted a preliminary injunction in favor of six transgender and nonbinary plaintiffs, siding with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). exclusiveusastory.com+7AP News+7Reuters+7
The administration’s policy stemmed from an executive order signed in January 2025, which asserted a binary definition of sex and denied the legitimacy of gender transitions. This order led the State Department to suspend its policy allowing transgender, intersex, and nonbinary individuals to update the sex designations on their passports, resulting in some applicants having their passports withheld or issued with incorrect sex designations. Them+4AP News+4AP News+4American Civil Liberties Union+1AP News+1
Judge Kobick ruled that the administration’s executive order and passport policy violate constitutional equal protection guarantees and are based on irrational prejudice against transgender individuals. She also criticized the policy for failing legal standards under the Administrative Procedure Act and the Paperwork Reduction Act. AP News+1Reuters+1
While the current injunction is not nationwide, the ACLU, representing the plaintiffs, is committed to expanding legal protection to all affected individuals. The State Department and White House have not commented on the ruling. American Civil Liberties Union+7Reuters+7The Independent+7
This legal challenge is among several faced by the Trump administration concerning policies affecting transgender individuals, including bans on gender-affirming care and transgender military service. The administration’s actions have sparked widespread criticism from civil rights organizations and prompted ongoing legal battles. Them
As the legal proceedings continue, the outcome of this case could have significant implications for the rights and recognition of transgender and nonbinary individuals in the United States.
