New Jersey adds 'X' gender option for driver's licenses, ID cards

ByEyewitness News WABC logo
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
NJ adds 'X' gender option for driver's licenses, ID cards
The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (NJMVC) announced on Monday the addition of an "X" gender option on the state's driver's licenses and non-driver identification cards.

NEW JERSEY (WABC) -- New Jersey drivers will have a new option when choosing their gender on their driver's license.

The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (NJMVC) announced on Monday the addition of an "X" gender option on the state's driver's licenses and non-driver identification cards.

Gender "X" will indicate a gender is unspecified, and it will now be offered along with the existing "M" and "F" for male and female.

The option is not only being offered to New Jersey residents who identify as non-binary, but for anyone who prefers not that their gender not be specified on the license or ID.

ALSO READ | Best friends in New Jersey accepted into multiple Ivy League schools

These two best friends will both be first-generation college students and say they owe their success to their families.

"Diversity and inclusion are core values for New Jersey, and for all of us at the MVC," MVC Chief Administrator Sue Fulton said. "We know this new option will be deeply impactful for many residents, as access to resources and the ability to live and work freely so often hinges on having documentation that correctly reflects your identity."

Customers only need to fill out a form that's available on the MVC website and visit an MVC Licensing Center as a walk-in customer.

They will have to give up their current license or ID and pay a standard fee of $11 to receive a duplicate.

The option was originally planned for late 2020, but was delayed due to the COVID pandemic, and it required modifications to the MVC computer system.

ALSO READ | Eli Manning, NY Giants help posthumously grant NJ girl's Make-A-Wish

Eli Manning and the New York Giants teamed with Make-A-Wish New Jersey to posthumously honor the wish of a 2-year-old girl who recently died of brain cancer.

The MVC announced the ability to change the gender designation on licenses and IDs in February 2020, after the passage of the Babs Siperstein Law in 2018.

----------

* Get Eyewitness News Delivered

* More New Jersey news

* Send us a news tip

* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts

* Follow us on YouTube

Submit a News Tip