ALBANY (1010 WINS) -- New York state residents can now choose an “X” gender marker on birth, marriage and death certificates, the Department of Health Department announced this week.
In addition to a "male" and "female" designating gender on the documents, there is now an "X" option to signify another gender or an undesignated gender for those who identify as non-binary, health officials said Monday.
The implementation applies to certificates issued outside of New York City, which maintains its own records, officials said.
People 17 years and older with existing documents can request a change, while those under 17 need a parent or guardian’s permission.
Johanne Morne, the deputy commissioner for Health Equity and Human Rights, called the change “another historic moment in our efforts to promote equality and respect for the LGBTQ+ community.”
“Every New Yorker needs to have identifying documents that accurately reflect who they are,” Morne said.
Most state agencies that collect information about a person’s gender are now required to provide an option for people to mark their gender as “X” on state forms.
Additional changes allow transgender individuals to update their name and gender on marriage certificates, officials said.
More info about changing birth, marriage and death certificates can be found on the left panel at this NY.gov page for vital records.
Related
Related
Related
