- On the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, Mexico issues its first passports with an X gender marker in national territory and through its consular network in North America
- Mexico joins a list of 16 countries around the world that offer gender-neutral passports
- Today, Mexico has taken a historic step: Ebrard
Today, to commemorate the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia and to continue the actions taken by the Foreign Ministry to offer more inclusive services, in accordance with international standards, Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard announced the issuance of the first non-binary Mexican passports.
After a change to passport applications published in the Official Journal of the Federation on May 15, from now on, applicants will be able to select an X gender marker on their passports.
Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard said that actions such as these are “a great quantum leap” for Mexico. "Important changes always begin as cultural changes. Today's ceremony is going to change our culture and, therefore, our daily lives. What we are doing has to do with a community that has the right to identity.” He concluded by saying that today "a historic step is being taken for Mexico."
Director General of Passport Offices Carlos Candelaria said that this change would not have been possible without the support of various government agencies. "Today, we are advancing along with other progressive countries."
In his remarks, Director General of Consular Services Jaime Vázquez Bracho Torres said that all authorities are obligated to protect and ensure the human right to identity. "In 2022, when we issued the first birth certificates at our consulates, the Foreign Secretary promised to work on issuing non-binary documents…Today, we have the honor of seeing the Foreign Secretary deliver the first non-binary passport." This change is one of the actions taken by the Foreign Ministry to ensure a policy of inclusion, protection and respect for the identity of Mexicans in our consulates and embassies.
Ociel Baena, who was issued a non-binary birth certificate, was invited by the Secretary to be the first person to be issued a non-binary passport in the nation. Foreign Secretary Ebrard delivered the passport to Magistrate Ociel Baena at the Naucalpan Passport Office. The magistrate said: “This is the first time that we have been issued a document without the need for strategic litigation.” These passports are the second non-binary identity document issued by the Foreign Ministry, the first being the third-generation high-security consular ID card that is issued in the United States, Spain and Costa Rica.
Accompanying the Foreign Secretary at this commemorative event were Federal Deputy Salma Luévano; the President of the National Council to Prevent Discrimination (Conapred), Claudia Olivia Morales Reza; the Director General of the National Population and Identity Registry, Jorge Wheatley; the head of the Institute for Mexicans Abroad, Luis Gutiérrez Reyes; and business executive Freddy Haber Jassan from Fórum Naucalpan.
The Naucalpan Passport Office in the State of Mexico was inaugurated on March 14 and is the only passport office located in a LEED-certified building (Leadership in energy and environmental design). This office is part of the comprehensive service model that has been put in place by the Foreign Ministry.
