Oregon becomes the first state in the United States to allow people to put an “X” instead of just “F” or “M”.
Oregon enables third gender option on identification cards and licenses, making the state the first in the US to do so.
The latest rule allows people from Oregon to mark an “X” instead of only having “F” or “M” as choices. This legislation, according to The Guardian, is a substantive civil rights win for non-binary citizens.
“This change in ID is a huge piece of validation for me,” said J. Gibbons, a Portland resident who identifies as non-binary, in the Guardian report. “The state of Oregon sees me for who I am. I don’t even think ‘excitement’ can capture all of my emotions about this change.”
Non-binaries also include transgender people and intersex people. The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) implemented the policy after a non-binary resident, Jamie Shupe, petitioned to be legally recognised as neither male nor female. After the successful ruling of this petition, the DMV was compelled to explore adding the “X” option.
“This is a pretty small change,” David House, spokesperson of the DMV, said. “There was very little opposition.”
With this new legislation, residents can request to change their IDs with an X mark without having to present a doctor’s note.
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