Michigan Residents Soon Able to Identify as Non-binary on Driver’s Licenses

Soon Michiganders may select a non-binary option as the sex on their driver's licenses and state identification cards.

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On Tuesday, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson announced the non-binary option - marked with an "X" - will be available as of Nov. 10, 2021.

Benson said in a release,

I am proud to support Michiganders across the state who for many years have called on the Department of State to provide a non-binary sex marker on their ID that matches their lived reality. We have been working toward this goal since 2019, when we first removed the barriers for residents to change their sex marker in order to help protect their safety and accurately reflect their identity.

According to Pacific Standard,

In a study published by the NCTE in 2015, nearly one-third (32 percent) of respondents—transgender and gender non-conforming Americans—reported they have been verbally harassed, denied benefits or service, asked to leave, or assaulted after showing an ID with a name or gender that did not match their perceived gender presentation.

Anyone who wishes to change their sex-marker to "X" will be able to do so by visiting any Secretary of State office, starting on Nov. 10, 2021. Residents are encouraged to schedule a visit for a license or ID correction by visiting Michigan.gov/SOS or calling 888-SOS-MICH.

Benson's announcement comes shortly after the United States Department of State announced that it is working to enable Americans across the country to select a non-binary sex marker on their U.S. passports. Currently, 20 other states and the District of Columbia allow residents to do so on state licenses and IDs.