New Yorkers who do not identify as male or female can now select third option 'X' on birth certificates
New Year's Day has proven to be a special one for New Yorkers, who were informed they would now have the option of picking apart from only male or female in their birth certificates. Instead, they can now select a third option, 'X' to reflect a non-binary gender identity.
While parents already had an option to select "undetermined" or "unknown" for their newborn children, the announcement from the health department has been hailed as the next step in being more inclusive of transgender and non-conforming citizens.
The press release also stated that transgender and gender non-binary New Yorkers would no longer need a letter from a physician or an affidavit signed by a licensed health care provider to change the gender on their birth certificate, and those born in New York City can submit a notarized affidavit that attests the gender marker change to affirm their gender identity.