Last Thursday, Oregon became the first U.S. state to allow residents to mark their gender as “not specified” on their driver’s license, learner’s permit or ID card.
The move was reportedly influenced by several LGBT rights groups and comes after a Multnomah County judge allowed Jamie Shupe, a Portland resident, to legally change her gender to “non-binary” in June 2016.
According to reports, the Oregon DMV said it carefully studied laws, updated computer systems, worked with law enforcement and courts and changed administrative rules to implement the change and comply with the Multnomah court’s order.
“It’s fitting that this is before us during Pride Week in Oregon and Pride Month around the country,” said Commissioner Sean O’Hollaren. “It’s something that we should do because it’s the right thing to do.”
Under the new rule, which was passed unanimously by the Oregon Transportation Commission, Oregonians will be able to choose a gender designation of “X,” “M” or “F” to go on their state ID card.
The word “non-binary” is often used by people to describe genders that fall outside the categories of male and female.
“There’s a little more truth and justice in the world today,” said Hayley Gorenberg, deputy legal director of Lambda Legal, the oldest and largest national legal organization that advocates for the civil rights of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender people.
Gorenberg’s statement continued by saying that when appearances don’t appear to match gender markers on ID cards, people often “endure insults and psychological trauma that could largely be averted if they had an option to use a gender marker that does not contradict who they are.”
Even though Oregon is the first state to make it official, other states are considering applying this new progressive rule as well. The state Senate in California, which passed the third gender option with a 26-12 vote, is currently awaiting actions from the state Assembly to put the new rule into effect throughout the state.
“In society we frequently put people into boxes and tell people who they need to be as opposed to who they are,” said California state Senator Scott Wiener while promoting a bill which would make a third marker available on additional documents, such as birth certificates in CA.
The process for changing your gender in Oregon will be simple, according to state officials. Residents will not need to present any form of doctor’s note in order to be granted a gender change to “X” on their state identification card.
The Oregon House stated that people will be allowed to “self-certify” their gender by visiting the DMV and going through the normal process of replacing a driver’s license or ID card. Any driver’s license replacement to reflect a gender change will still require payment of the standard $26.50 replacement fee.
The new gender rule takes effect on July 1, 2017.