June 12 (UPI) — The Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles announced Monday it will offer the option of a non-binary gender designation on driver’s licenses and identification cards.
Those who wish to identify as a non-binary gender will need to fill out a Gender Designation Form and the BMV will issue a sticker for the license or identification card that reads: “Gender has been changed to X – Non-binary,” the BMV said in a statement.
By next year, the sticker will be phased out and the non-binary gender will be designated on driver’s licenses and identification cards as “X.”
The decision comes after the Maine Human Rights Commission filed a complaint last year on behalf of Maine resident Ian-Meredythe Dehne Lindsey, who wanted to be designated a non-binary gender but did not have the option to do so.
“We know gender is a spectrum and some people don’t identify as male or female. It’s important that driver’s licenses and other forms of IDs recognize people who are non-binary. Removing barriers for people is critical to helping all of us live healthy, productive lives,” said Zack Paakkonen, the Equality Maine attorney who represented Dehne Lindsey, according to the Bangor Daily News.
“Words cannot adequately express the relief I feel, and how happy I am, that my ID will now reflect such an integral part of my identity and who I am,” Dehne Lindsey said.
Vermont and Washington earlier this year began offering a “Gender X” designation on state documents, including driver’s licenses, identification cards and birth certificates.
