Mass. RMV Is Now Offering Non-Binary Gender X Licenses And ID Cards

The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles announced on Wednesday that as part of its system upgrade, it is now allowing residents to choose a gender designation of X on their driver's licenses or state ID cards.

The registry said it will now recognize three gender designations: male, female and non-binary.

Massachusetts joins several other states that have legalized gender-neutral license designations, including California, Maine and Idaho.

The agency's move circumvents the Legislature, which has been unable to complete work on a bill for several years.

Senate President Karen Spilka, an Ashland Democrat, has tried to pass legislation to make a "gender X" designation available on state licenses and other identification documents, but each time it passed the Senate it stalled out in the House.

The bill that cleared the Senate also would allow residents to amend their birth certificates to reflect the non-binary gender X.

With reporting by State House News Service and The Associated Press