Arkansas Rejects ‘X’ Option for Non-Binary Identification on Driver’s Licenses
Arkansas residents will now be required to identify as either male or female on their driver’s licenses, as the state discontinues the option for a third gender designation such as “X” for individuals who identify as non-binary.
The policy change, first announced by Arkansas Governor Sarah Sanders to the Daily Wire, will require residents to have the gender on their driver’s licenses coordinate with the one on their birth certificate.
“This policy is just common sense,” Governor Sanders said in a statement to The Daily Wire. “Only women give birth, men shouldn’t play women’s sports, and there are only two genders. As long as I’m Governor, Arkansas state government will not endorse nonsense.”
Previously, Arkansas allowed individuals who did not identify as male or female to use the “X” option on their IDs. Those who currently possess this designation on their licenses can retain it until their license expires, at which point they must update it to reflect a binary gender choice.
Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) Director Jim Hudson also described this policy change as a “common sense approach,” explaining it is necessary to ensure the objectivity and verifiability of information on state-issued IDs.
“All of our stakeholders in law enforcement, other government agencies, caregivers, schools, and businesses depend on DFA-issued licenses and IDs to keep our communities safe and to prevent fraud,” Hudson explained. “The discontinued policy is not supported by Arkansas law and was never subject to public comment and review by the Arkansas Legislative Council (ALC), as required by the Administrative Procedures Act.”
This announcement comes at a time when Governor Sanders has taken a series of steps to combat “woke” policies in the state. Last Fall, Sanders signed an Executive Order that banned “woke, anti-women” terms in official state documents. These include terms such as “birthing person,” “human milk,” “chestfeeding,” “birthing person,” “womxn,” and “womyn.”
Arkansas was among a handful of states that previously allowed some form of legal recognition for individuals identifying as non-binary. In contrast, states like California permit individuals to designate a third gender option on birth certificates, driver’s licenses, and identity cards. As of 2021, California’s Department of Motor Vehicles reported over 8,000 individuals with non-binary gender designations on their driver’s licenses.
