Maine gov't to offer gender non-conforming option on driver's licenses and state IDs

Mainers can now opt to mark their gender as “X” on their official government IDs after an agreement was reached between the Maine Bureau of Motor Vehicles and the Maine Human Rights Commission.

On Monday, the Maine BMV announced the availability of a third gender option for Maine state IDs and driver's licenses, a decision which arrives as a result of a complaint filed last year with the Maine Human Rights Commission by Portland attorney and EqualityMaine’s board president, Zack Paakkonen, on behalf of his client, Ian-Meredythe Dehne Lindsey.

“It’s exciting to see Maine’s Bureau of Motor Vehicles adopt this change. We know gender is a spectrum and some people don’t identify as male or female,” wrote Paakkonen in a press release. “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.”

Lindsey, a resident of South Portland, wanted to mark their gender as “non-binary” but was denied the request because the designation wasn’t part of the computer system used to make the IDs. The system will be upgraded by July of 2019 to include the third option. In the meantime, gender non-conforming folks can apply to the BMV for a special sticker placed on the back of an ID that reads “Gender has been changed to: X – Non-binary.” According to Pine Tree Legal, navigating this process is free, easy, and accomplishable online.

Read more: https://www.conwaydailysun.com/portland_phoenix/news/this_just_in/inclusive-and-official-maine-gov-t-to-offer-gender-non/article_f94888a2-6e58-11e8-a33f-6b9b51d4f582.html