The Removal of the ‘X’ Gender Marker on Nexus Cards Is a Step Backward for Inclusion

The recent decision to remove the “X” gender marker option from Nexus travel cards is more than just a bureaucratic adjustment it’s a disappointing regression for inclusivity and human rights. As of February 2025, Canadians renewing or applying for a Nexus card can no longer select the “X” option, a change prompted by a U.S. executive order from President Donald Trump mandating that only “male” or “female” be recognized.

On paper, this might seem like a minor detail a form field change, nothing more. But for trans, non-binary, and gender-diverse people, it’s a forced erasure. It means being compelled to misidentify oneself simply to maintain the privilege of faster border crossings. This isn’t just inconvenient; it’s dehumanizing.

What’s frustrating is that Canada itself still recognizes the “X” gender marker on passports and identification. Since 2022, Canadians could carry that recognition into their Nexus profiles and 550 people did so before the policy was reversed. Now, the binational nature of the Nexus program means that the U.S. system effectively overrides Canada’s inclusive stance.

The Canada Border Services Agency acknowledges the problem but says its hands are tied, given that U.S. Customs and Border Protection operates the application system. But this shrug-and-comply approach leaves Canadians vulnerable not only to erasure but also to increased stress and scrutiny at the border when their Nexus card doesn’t match their passport.

Travel should be about moving freely, not about surrendering your identity at a checkpoint. And while the CBSA rightly warns that not all countries share Canada’s values, that’s no excuse for accepting discriminatory policies from our closest ally without a fight. Canada has an obligation to advocate for its citizens all of them in bilateral agreements, especially when those agreements directly affect rights and dignity.

As Helen Kennedy of Egale Canada points out, this decision impacts people on both sides of the border. It sends a message that the recognition of gender diversity is conditional, easily rolled back when politically convenient. That’s not progress it’s retreat.

It’s not enough for Canada to quietly maintain “X” on passports while allowing a key cross-border travel program to strip that recognition away. True commitment to inclusion means standing firm, even when it’s diplomatically inconvenient. If we accept this rollback without pushback, we risk signaling that identity can be negotiated away at the border.

Rights don’t stop at customs. And neither should recognition.