Arkansas Ends 'X' Gender Option on Driver's Licenses

The state mandates gender markers to match birth certificates, drawing criticism from LGBTQ+ groups.

Arkansas has rescinded its policy allowing the use of 'X' as a gender marker on driver's licenses and state IDs, requiring gender to match birth certificates.
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders praised the move as common sense, aligning with her stance against endorsing 'nonsense' in state government.
The policy change has sparked criticism from LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, highlighting concerns for the safety and dignity of transgender, nonbinary, and intersex Arkansans.
Previously issued licenses and IDs with 'X' markers remain valid until expiration, after which they must be updated.
The decision is part of broader efforts by Republican-led states to legally define sex as binary, amidst ongoing cultural and legal debates over gender identity.