In an ever changing world, New York State has now made it possible for the state's non-binary and transgender residents to self-identify to the gender community they are currently in.

Governor Andrew Cuomo signed the Gender Recognition Act on Thursday which expands protections for transgender and non-binary residents. It allows the use of “X” as a non-binary sex designation on New York driver licenses and ensures that gender identity can be used on official documents. The act provides protections to reduce discrimination against nonbinary and transgender New Yorkers along with allowing residents to amend their birth certificates and use a designation of mother, father, or parent for the first time.

The legislation (S.4402-B/A.5465-D) ensures that New Yorkers will be able to have their gender identity on official documents and provides protections to reduce discrimination against nonbinary and transgender New Yorkers by permitting name change and sex designation changes to be sealed more easily. Finally, the legislation will provide New Yorkers the ability to amend their birth certificates and use a designation of mother, father, or parent for the first time.

"Every New Yorker deserves to be free from discrimination and have state-issued identification and processes that respect them for who they are, recognize their gender identity and protect their safety," Governor Cuomo said. "New York continues to lead the way in ensuring LGBTQ people are treated equally in every part of the law and society, and this bill is another landmark that ensures New Yorkers can express ourselves for who we are."

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