The New York State DMV issues the first driver’s licenses with an “X” for gender

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles on Friday issued its first-ever gender-neutral driver’s licenses, allowing people to drive under a new state law officially effective May 24.

“Every person, regardless of their gender identity or expression, deserves to have an identification document that reflects who they are,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a press release.

State legislatures overwhelmingly passed the Gender Recognition Act last year, allowing the “X” option for driver’s licenses, learner permits and non-driver’s IDs.

A Friday tweet from the DMV highlighted the people who received the first batch of X-marked IDs.

The new law will also remove the requirement for people to publish notices of court requests to change names in newspapers.

Proponents say part of the new law will allow them to avoid discrimination and harassment by keeping personal information, such as their previous names, place of birth and address, out of the public eye.

“For Pride it is a really great gift to the community [month]said Sen. Brad Hoylman (D-Manhattan), who co-sponsored the bill with Assemblyman Danny O’Donnell (D-Manhattan).

Other states such as Pennsylvania and Oregon already allow an “X” option for driver’s licenses.

“It is my sincere hope that as we move forward, other transgender and non-binary New Yorkers will be able to live their lives with the respect and dignity they deserve in every facet of their lives, supported by an accurate, dated State-issued identification.” Sander Saba, a non-binary person who filed a lawsuit over the matter in 2020, said in the press release.

Emilia Decaudin, a transgender activist and Democratic District Chairwoman in Queens, said she welcomes the new law while worrying about how “X” could leave people vulnerable to discrimination because their ID effectively identifies them as trans or not – would mark binary.

A possible solution to such problems, according to Decaudin, could include more training for police officers and other public servants – or simply removing gender from driver’s licenses altogether.

Driver’s licenses currently include gender, height, eye color, address, date of birth and a photo.

“It begs the question, why do we even need gender on government ID cards?” Decaudin said of the new law.