California drivers will now have a third option when it comes to the sex listed on their driver’s licenses.
Under a new law that went into effect on Jan. 1, drivers can pick male, female or non-binary on their driver’s license application. Colorado recently enacted a similar policy on Nov. 30, 2018.
Like Colorado’s policy, those who select the non-binary option will have an X in the gender category instead of M or F. In California, the DMV does not require an applicant to provide gender documentation.
In Colorado, anyone seeking to choose non-binary as their identifier must provide a DR2083 Change of Sex Designation form.Colorado residents must also get a signature from their licensed treating medical or behavioral health care provider confirming the individual received appropriate clinical treatment for their correct sex in person at a driver license office.
However, there is not a requirement to prove specific surgery, treatment or clinical care was obtained by the license seeker in the Centennial state.
It’s estimated that the change will cost California’s DMV about $1 million in costs to modify programming and forms.
Oregon, Minnesota, Maine and Washington, D.C. are other states that allow a non-binary sex identifier on their driver licenses and identification cards.
