Maine Considers ‘Nonbinary’ Option For Birth Certificates

Some Maine LGBT advocates are saying that this is a big step forward in their push for what they call greater equality.

The rule would first need to be approved by the Maine Center for Disease Control. If that were to happen, it would allow new parents to select nonbinary as opposed to male of female on new birth certificates.

In addition, the KJ reports that this step would also make it easier for existing adults to change the current selection on their own birth certificates.

Nonbinary refers to people that don't identify as either male or female. The Maine Transgender Network, which is an advocacy group for transgender people, says there are anywhere between 6,000-12,000 people living in Maine who identify as transgender.

They also said that being able to have vital records and Maine state IDs that reflect a person's gender identity is important for the physical safety of nonbinary people.