CBP Enforces Binary Sex Codes and Enhanced US Passport Validation in APIS


Sex Field Requirements: Effective Oct. 14, 2025, CBP systems will only accept “M” (Male) or “F” (Female) in the sex field of APIS transmissions. Any other characters will result in an “X Response-Insufficient Information” error, requiring airlines to resubmit the passenger data with corrected information.

    • smh@slrpnk.net
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      11 days ago

      Beg pardon, I’m not sure I understand what you’re saying. Could you please define “this” and “backpassing”?

      (I’m not sure if you’re calling the parent post bullshit for suggesting ID without gender markings, or saying having to revert ID is bullshit. If the later: I totally agree that having to lie on one’s ID for safety is hurtful bullshit.)

      • nanoswarm9k@lemmus.org
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        11 days ago

        Backpass, transgender community, as in “attempt to visually/socially pass as hospital sex+collonist beauty standards, usually to avoid negative sanctions if whatever scale.”

        Simmilar to “straight-passing” some queer people might do to stay safe or included at work or fam gatherings.

        ex https://transgenderindia.com/transition-transit-passing-legal-gender/

        (I wanted to link to a search(whichever engines), but the results are pretty clogged with civil rights trashfires compared to our community factsheets and forums results like 10 yrs ago.)

        • nanoswarm9k@lemmus.org
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          11 days ago

          it sounds deceptively binary, but is a holistic concept: not switching, but cutting off parts to fit into a system that denies medical and historical facts of intersex and transex existance.

          Hence violence. Not a lightswitch. Definitely free speech/agency canaries. Again, historically.

          • smh@slrpnk.net
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            11 days ago

            So (if I read you right) the violence isn’t done by those that try to pass to avoid negative consequences, but by those that 1. enforce those negative consequences and those that 2. force IDs to fit into their artificial binary.

            That makes sense. Thank you for clarifying.

            Anecdote that helps me relate to the concept you described: A friend of mine has an extra pinky finger and it used to bother me–like, why hadn’t she had a surgical intervention so her hands more closely matched my concept of normal? Then I realized I should be happy that she didn’t feel the need to cut off a part of herself to fit in. Like my friend’s pinky, trans folk existing isn’t hurting anyone.

            • nanoswarm9k@lemmus.org
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              10 days ago

              1+2: Yes. Comprehension achieved.

              I like your anecdote and think it will help others. Thanks for putting in some effort!