LITTLE ROCK, Ark. Despite Democratic lawmakers’ reservations about the change, a largely Republican board on Thursday approved an Arkansas company’s decision to remove “X” as an alternative alongside male and female on state-issued driver’s licenses and identification accounts.
The professional committee of the Arkansas Legislative Council approved the crisis rules for the new policy, which removes a choice that was used by nonbinary and transgender residents. Additionally, the new plan makes it more difficult for transgender people to alter the sex on their Authentication and licenses.
The organization announced that it was revoked a 2010 process that officials claimed violated state rules and had not received proper congressional approval.
“As I reviewed it, it became very apparent to me that, one, it was really not freely authorized”, Finance and Administration Secretary Jim Hudson told the board. The second is that it contravened both legal law and common sense public policy.
Arkansas is the most recent Republican state to legislate the definition of binary sex, which, according to critics, essentially eliminates transgender and nonbinary people and leaves questions for those who are born with physical characteristics that don’t fit traditional definitions of male or female.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Arkansas announced on Thursday that it was challenging a court’s decision to block Democrat Governor. The administration of Laura Kelly prevented transgender people from changing the sex listed on their license.
At least 22 states and the District of Columbia allow “X” as an alternative. Just about 500 of Arkansas’ 3.1 million active condition-issued pilot’s licenses and IDs have the “X” classification.
Democrats insisted on changing the plan and on the company’s claim that it was necessary for public safety.
Democratic Sen. Clarke Tucker pointed out that the state doesn’t require the same level of verification for other parameters, such as eye color or height, as it does for sex on licenses.
“Why are we focused only on sex and not all of the data on driver’s licenses?” Tucker said.
By requiring a modified birth certificate to be submitted, the new legislation makes it harder for transgender people to change the sex listed on their licenses and IDs. A court order is now required to change the sex on a birth certificate.
Under the new regulations, the designated sex may match a child’s birth certificate, passport, or Homeland Security file. Documents allow “X” as an alternative. If a woman’s card lists “X”, the applicant must submit a form choosing male or female.
The ministry will continue to implement the crisis rules for 120 days while developing continuous ones that did receive public feedback. They will become effective after the complete legislative committee review on Friday.
In recent years, Arkansas has passed a number of laws that are concerned with the rights of trans individuals. Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who has characterized the shift as reasonable, signed an executive order last year that prohibits gender-neutral phrases from state documents.
