Oregon Becomes First State To Allow Non-Binary Gender Option On Driver's Licenses

Oregon is now the first state to allow residents who identify as neither male nor female to mark their driver’s license, learner’s permit or ID card gender as “not specified.”

The Oregon Transportation Commission made the state the first to issue “non-binary” identification cards for its residents effective on Monday. Although this comes one week after Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced that the nation’s capital would also issue a gender neutral identifier, “X,” in place of male or female.

Read: Transgender Parent Fights For Child's Genderless Birth Certificate

Oregon’s Driver and Motor Vehicle Services is the result of a judge’s ruling last year to allow a Portland resident to legally change to a non-binary gender last year. Multnomah County Circuit Court judge allowed Portland Army veteran Jamie Shupe to legally identify as neither a male nor a female. The Oregon DMV said it updated computer systems and worked with law enforcement and the courts before making the change. They also studied state laws and administrative rules prior to enacting the genderless identification option.

Starting on July 1, Oregonians have the option to choose the “X” sex instead of “F” or “M” on any official state ID. Applicants will still have to pay if they choose to replace or renew their cards. Oregon’s DMV said they encountered very little resistance to the move. The Williams Institute at the University of California-Los Angeles estimates 20,000 Oregonians identify as transgender. And a 2015 survey conducted by the National Center for Transgender Equality found that more than one-third of 28,000 transgender individuals who were surveyed identified as neither male nor female.

Oregon Commissioner Sean O’Hollaren told The Oregonian he is proud that the state embraced the change.

"I hope those who will use X as an identifier will feel an element of comfort moving forward," O'Hollaren said. "It's something we're not only doing because legally our hand is forced. It's something we should do because it's the right thing to do."

Washington D.C.’s third option for gender went into effect on June 23.

“Washington, DC has long been a leader in LGBTQ rights and gender issues, and this change is the most recent example of our city’s commitment to inclusivity,” wrote D.C. mayor Bowser in a June 23 press release. “The safety and well-being of all Washingtonians is my top priority, and whenever we are presented with an opportunity to improve the lives of residents and better align our policies with DC values, I will take it. I hope to see other jurisdictions follow in our footsteps.”

The Associated Press reports that California lawmakers are also considering adding a third gender option to their state identification cards.