New York adds third gender option to birth certificates, licenses

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) on Thursday signed a law that will add a third gender option to birth certificates and licenses in the state.

The Gender Recognition Act allows nonbinary individuals to select “X” for their gender on driver’s licenses, and there will be an option on birth certificates to select “parent” instead of mother or father, a press release by the governor states.

The bill also provides protection against discrimination, as New Yorkers no longer have to publish their new and former names, current address, place of birth and date of birth in a newspaper after they change their name.

Nonbinary individuals are now also allowed to petition a court for their preferred gender designation and the petition will be able to be sealed.

“Every New Yorker deserves to be free from discrimination and have state-issued identification and processes that respect them for who they are, recognize their gender identity and protect their safety,” Cuomo said. 

“New York continues to lead the way in ensuring LGBT people are treated equally in every part of the law and society, and this bill is another landmark that ensures New Yorkers can express ourselves for who we are,” he added.