00:00In the United States, a federal judge blocks U.S. President Donald Trump's administration
00:05from refusing to issue passports to transgender and non-binary Americans that reflect their gender
00:10identities. U.S. District Judge Julia Kobik in Boston expands a preliminary injunction she issued
00:16in April. She earlier allowed six transgender and non-binary individuals who challenged the policy
00:21to obtain passports consistent with their gender identities or with an ex-sex designation.
00:26She says Tuesday, June 12, granting class action civil status to two categories of passport holders
00:32was appropriate, given that the administration's actions affected them uniformly by, quote,
00:36preventing them from obtaining passports with a sex marker consistent with their gender identity.
00:41Lee Naolin Sol, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, calls the ruling a critical victory against discrimination.
00:47After returning to office in January, Trump signed an executive order directing the government to
00:51recognize only two biologically distinct sexes, male and female.
00:56Prior to Trump, the State Department for more than three decades allowed people
01:00to update the sex designation on their passports.
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