US state offers third gender option on driving licenses

This week Oregon introduced an “X” category, which legally recognises people who are non-binary, intersex and agender on government ID cards.

Democratic Governor Kate Brown said in a statement that “We must proactively break down the barriers of institutional bias”, adding that the law will establish “a society that upholds the rights, liberties and dignity of each of its people”.

The state’s Transportation Commission passed the rule last Thursday. The same measure has already been introduced in Washington DC.

New Zealand, Australia and India offer similar options on passports while the province of Ontario in Canada allows residents to select “X” for gender.