**Key Takeaways:**
– The Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration has revoked a policy that previously allowed individuals to change their gender on driver’s licenses and IDs without providing proof, or to select a gender-neutral “X.”
– The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Arkansas criticizes this move, arguing it compromises the safety and dignity of transgender, intersex, and non-binary residents.
– The revised policy requires driver’s license and ID holders to display a gender of “male” or “female” based on their original or amended birth certificate.
– Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders supports the policy change, emphasizing her view that gender is binary.
– The decision has sparked backlash from LGBTQ advocates, who see it as part of a broader effort to curtail the rights of transgender and non-binary individuals.
– Similar restrictive measures have been implemented in Florida, where changing gender on driver’s licenses has been barred, with penalties for misrepresentation.
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In a significant policy shift, the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration announced the withdrawal of a policy that previously permitted individuals to freely alter their gender designation on state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards, or to opt for a gender-neutral “X” marker. This move has ignited a wave of criticism from civil rights organizations, including the ACLU of Arkansas, which contends that such policy changes pose a direct threat to the well-being and respect of the transgender, intersex, and non-binary communities within the state.
Effective immediately, the policy adjustment mandates that all driver’s license and ID card holders must have a gender designation of either “male” or “female” that matches the gender specified on their original or amended birth certificate. This announcement was detailed in a press release that underscored the immediate applicability of the revised policy.
Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has publicly endorsed the policy change, describing it as a “common sense” approach and reaffirming her belief in a binary gender system. This stance has been met with strong opposition from LGBTQ advocacy groups, who argue that such policies are regressive and infringe upon the rights of transgender and non-binary individuals.
The policy reversal has been justified by Arkansas DFA Secretary Jim Hudson as a necessary step to align with Arkansas law, which he claims did not support the previous policy. Hudson emphasizes the intent to enhance community safety and prevent fraud as key motivations behind the change.
Critics, however, argue that this move is part of a larger, concerning trend of administrative actions targeting the transgender community in Arkansas. Ash Orr, from the National Center for Transgender Equality, highlighted the critical importance of access to accurate identity documents for engaging in daily activities and accessing services. Orr’s statement underscores the message that denying identification that reflects an individual’s true identity devalues their dignity and compromises their safety.
In a related development, Florida has enacted a similar law that prohibits individuals from changing their gender on driver’s licenses, with potential criminal and civil penalties for those found guilty of misrepresenting their gender. This aligns with a pattern of states adopting more restrictive policies regarding gender identity, sparking further debate and concern among civil rights advocates.