New Jersey Will Now Let You Add Gender X To Your Driver’s License
New Jersey is now the latest state to let you add another option under gender to your driver’s license. Previously, you could only pick from male or female.
“M” for male, “F” for female, and “X” for unspecified are now all the options you can select from when going to get identification cards or driver’s licenses in the state.
“Gender “X” will indicate a gender is unspecified, and it will be offered alongside the existing “M” (male) and “F” (female) gender options on licenses and IDs,” The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission explained in a press release.
“This is offered not only to New Jersey residents who identify as non-binary but for anyone who prefers that their gender not be specified on their license or ID.”
MVC Chief Administrator Sue Fulton said, “Diversity and inclusion are core values for New Jersey, and for all of us at the MVC.”
“We know this new option will be deeply impactful for many residents, as access to resources and the ability to live and work freely so often hinges on having documentation that correctly reflects your identity.”
The Babs Siperstein Law, which was passed in 2018, has made gender “X” possible for inclusion on New Jersey identification cards and driver’s licenses.
New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission; pictured above is a photo posted to Twitter announcing gender “X”
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This law made it possible for people to no longer have to undergo gender reassignment surgery in order to get their IDs or licenses changed. Now, you can simply declare your gender identity to get it changed on official documents.
Gender “X” is now also required as an option for birth certificates in the state of New Jersey as well.
New Jersey is hardly the first state to adopt gender “X”; in fact, they’re now the 20th state. Washington, D.C. was the first to start doing this, followed by Oregon.
“Trans people need accurate and consistent IDs to open bank accounts, start new jobs, enroll in school, and travel,” the National Center for Transgender Equality points out.
“However, the name and gender change process is complicated and sometimes prohibitively expensive.”
“Moreover, many state and federal governments have intrusive and burdensome requirements—such as proof of surgery or court orders—that have made it sometimes impossible for trans people to update their IDs.”
“As a result, only one-fifth (21%) of transgender people who have transitioned according to the National Transgender Discrimination Survey have been able to update all of their IDs and records with their new gender and one-third (33%) had updated none of their IDs or records.”
More About:Human Interest
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