NJ MVC Adds Gender ‘X’ Option For Licenses, ID Cards

NEW JERSEY – The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (NJMVC) recently added a gender “X” option on state driver licenses and non-driver identification cards, the agency said Monday.

Gender “X,” which indicates an unspecified gender, will be offered alongside the existing “M” (male) and “F” (female) gender options on licenses and IDs. The option is available not only to non-binary or gender non-conforming New Jersey residents, but also to anyone who prefers that their gender not be specified on their ID.

“Diversity and inclusion are core values for New Jersey, and for all of us at the MVC. 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,” said MVC Chief Administrator Sue Fulton in a statement.

Those wishing to change their gender marker on a license or ID can fill out the associated form available on the MVC website and visit an MVC Licensing Center in person. Residents will have to surrender their current license or ID and pay $11 for a duplicate card.

“We're thrilled that New Jersey has joined 19 other states and Washington, DC in offering X gender markers on driver's licenses and state IDs,” said Christian Fuscarino, the executive director of the advocacy group Garden State Equality. “This option will allow New Jerseyans, particularly nonbinary and intersex people, to enjoy a right many of us take for granted – having ID that accurately reflects who we are. We applaud the MVC for taking another step to improve the lives of LGBTQ+ New Jerseyans.”

The New Jersey MVC first announced the ability to change gender designation on licenses and IDs in February 2020, following passage of the Babs Siperstein Law. The law, which allows individuals in the state to change their gender marker on their birth certificate without proof of surgery, was signed by Gov. Phil Murphy in July 2018. The law also ensures a gender neutral option on birth certificates.

The agency originally planned to add the gender ‘X’ option in late 2020, although its implementation was delayed due to the COVID-19 public health emergency as it required modifications to the MVC computer system.