PennDOT Driver Licenses Will Now Have Non-Binary Gender Option

PENNSYLVANIA — Pennsylvanians looking to get a new drivers license or identification card will now have the option of selecting a non-binary gender designation, officials announced on Thursday.

The option will be expressed as "X"; previously, residents could only choose "M" or "F."

Pennsylvania is not the first state to provide residents with this option. A total of 16 other states have added the non-binary choice, including Hawaii, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Colorado, Minnesota, Maine, New York, Oregon, and California. Legislation is pending in more states.

“PennDOT is taking a very important step towards better serving Pennsylvanians of all gender identities," Rafael Álvarez Febo, Executive Director for the Pennsylvania Commission on LGBTQ Affairs, said in a statement. "By removing barriers to make these changes, we are providing Pennsylvanians the agency to live their lives as their true selves,” said “Your state issued ID is quite possibly the most important identity document you use on a daily basis, it should reflect your truth."

The process to switch to an "X" designation requires Form DL-32. The option is available to anyone who wants it. It does not require the signoff of a medical or social service provider, the state said.

“Our identity documents are critical to how we navigate the world, and having an affirming and accurate ID is critical for access to employment, healthcare, housing and so much more,” PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian said in a statement.

Details on changing designation and required documentation are available on the PennDOT site.