Hundreds of Ohioans have changed their gender designation on their driver’s license since the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles began to allow the process nearly six years ago.
Since September 2009, 604 people have changed their driver’s license to reflect a change in gender identity.
BMV Registrar Don Petit said, “There were people approaching the BMV saying, ‘hey, I need to change this information.’”
The BMV requires a physician or psychologist to certify the applicant is ready for a different gender role before the license is amended. Petit said the bureau looks to outside documentation for numerous changes on the license, such as a name change.
“Very similarly here, instead of the BMV attempting to exercise medical judgment, we’re going to defer to a medical professional to attest to the change in status," Petit said.
A gender designation can only be changed twice.
A transgender person can have a driver’s license picture which mirrors their gender identity without officially changing the license’s sex designation.