New York City residents will have a new option for indicating gender on birth certificates: gender “X.” This means a birth certificate will not carry a designation of either a male for female. Essentially giving an individual an unknown gender specification on their birth certificate.

A law allowing the choice of “X” takes effect this Tuesday January 2019. The measure to allow this designation passed earlier this year.

The law will allow people to change their birth certificates to “X” by attesting that it reflects their “true gender identity.” Parents also can choose “X” for newborns when they give birth.

New York City is joining California, Oregon, Washington state in allowing an undesignated gender option on birth certificates. A similar provision takes effect in New Jersey in February 2019.

In 2014, New York City eliminated a policy that allowed birth certificate gender changes only if people underwent gender reassignment surgery.

Instead, the city required proof from a medical or mental health professional. The new law gets rid of that requirement.

What are your thoughts on the new law that passed in New York Recently regarding “Gender X”