California to add gender-neutral driver’s license identity
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Gov. Jerry Brown signed a measure allowing Californians to identify their gender as “non-binary” on driver’s licenses if they don’t identify solely as male or female, the latest effort by California to ease barriers for LGBT people.
The bill, signed late Sunday, was among the last of 977 bills that Brown acted on just before a deadline Sunday night.
At the same time, the Democratic governor vetoed three bills that looked to advance protections for women and signed a measure that could allow for a boost in public parks.
With Brown’s signature on SB179, California joins Oregon in allowing a gender-neutral option on driver’s licenses and state identification cards. The legislation also makes it easier for people to change their name and gender on other official documents such as birth certificates.
The Democratic governor also signed a separate measure that allows people in prison to ask a court for a name or gender change.
Amid a growing national conversation about gender identity, California has banned unnecessary travel by state employees doing government work to states deemed hostile to LGBT people and has expanded gender-neutral bathrooms. In response to litigation, the state prison system has paid for an inmate’s gender reassignment surgery and adopted policies allowing cosmetics, bras and personal items corresponding to an inmate’s gender identity.
Brown previously signed other legislation allowing extra pay for teachers who have children and believes further expanding paid leave should be a subject of collective bargaining agreements between unions and school administrators.
He also blocked a bill that would have prohibited churches, religious schools and other religious organizations from firing or disciplining employees for having an abortion, using birth control or receiving in vitro fertilization. Brown said nonreligious employers have long been barred from taking such actions, and the state Department of Fair Employment and Housing should handle any disputes.
In addition, Brown vetoed a measure that sought to codify guidelines from the Obama administration about campus sexual assault.