People cheer during a street Drag queen performance celebrating "Orgullo Fest," the first official Pride event in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of East in Los Angeles on June 27, 2021. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

       WASHINGTON (Kyodo) -- The State Department said Wednesday it is working to add a third gender option to U.S. passports for people who do not define themselves as male or female, but noted the process is "complex and will take time."

       The announcement came as the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden is stepping up efforts to promote and protect human rights including those of the LGBT community. Countries such as Canada and Australia offer an "X" option for the sex field on their passports in addition to the "F" for female and "M" for male.

       U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken did not make clear in his statement when exactly the department will introduce the new gender marker.

       "We are evaluating the best approach to achieve this goal," he said on the final day of June, which is Pride Month in the United States.

       "The process of adding a gender marker for nonbinary, intersex, and gender nonconforming persons to these documents is technologically complex and will take time for extensive systems updates," he added.

       The department also said, starting Wednesday, applicants can select the gender "M" or "F" they would like printed on their passports without providing medical certification if their self-selected gender does not match that on their other citizenship or identity documents.

       "The department is taking these steps after considerable consultation with like-minded governments who have undertaken similar changes," Blinken said.

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