Oregon Allows Drivers To Choose Non-Gender Specific Option On Licenses

SALEM, OR — The Oregon Transportation Commission on Thursday announced a rule change that will give Oregon residents a third option when choosing how to identify their gender. The new rule will take effect July 3.

By adding the new option, not specified, state officials have successfully honored a 1-year-old request by Oregon resident Jamie Shupe, who in June 2016 was allowed by a Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge to officially and legally change their sex from female to non-binary. Born a male, Shupe began transitioning to female in 2013. But according to the Oregonian, Shupe felt "female" didn't necessarily fit either. So in April 2016, Shupe and their lawyer Lake Perriguey petitioned Oregon's court to legally change Shupe's sex.

In order to comply with the judge's order, the state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) spent the past year studying state laws, updating computer systems, working with business partners (Oregon law enforcement and its court system), and changing administrative rules, DMV officials said in a statement.

Now, in addition to the traditional M or F designations, an X will be found on Oregon driver's licenses and in driver's records to identify their chosen gender non-specification.

While new licensees and folks getting new ID cards will be awarded the option at no cost, anyone wishing to make a change on their ID more than a year before its designated renewal date will be required to pay an additional fee.

For more information, visit OregonDMV.com.

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