When J. Gibbons was born, doctors said the 26-year-old college counselor was female. But J presents as masculine and identifies as non-binary. J plans to apply for the new gender marker from the DMV July 1, 2017.
Basic Rights Oregon
Starting next month, the Oregon DMV will offer identity cards with a
.
It’s the first time a U.S. state has recognized non-binary identities.
Oregonians filling in DMV information will be able to mark male, female or not-specified.
“I’m incredibly thrilled to be an Oregonian right now," said J. Gibbons.
When Gibbons was born, doctors said the 26-year-old college counselor was female. But Gibbons presents as masculine and identifies as non-binary.
“There are daily interactions such as checking out at a grocery store, checking in at a doctor's appointment — and an incorrect gender marker means the potential to be misgendered and have painful and very uncomfortable experiences at all of those stages,” said Gibbons.
Gibbons plans to apply for the new gender marker from the DMV July 1, the first day possible.
The DMV made the change after a Multnomah County judge allowed retired Army mechanic Jamie Shupe to legally identify as non-binary.
The agency held a nine-month public process to look into the idea.
Passports in the U.S. don’t currently recognize the third gender option. But Diane Goodwin with Basic Rights Oregon said the change is necessary to move the issue forward.