Vermont House Approves Bill to Protect ‘X’ Gender Option on Driver’s Licenses
MONTPELIER—On May 27, 2025, the Vermont House passed a significant measure aimed at safeguarding the driver’s licenses of transgender, nonbinary, and intersex individuals amid tightening federal regulations. Embedded within the state’s miscellaneous motor vehicle bill, the legislation, S.123, allows residents to renew their driver’s licenses at any point before they expire, effectively granting individuals more autonomy to maintain accurate gender representation on their IDs.
Since 2019, Vermont has been progressive in offering three gender marker options on licenses: male, female, and “other,” which is denoted by an “X.” However, concerns have arisen following President Trump’s executive order aiming to eliminate the "X" option from U.S. passports, mandating a binary recognition of only male and female identities. This federal action has raised alarms about potential restrictions on access to IDs that reflect true gender identities.
Rep. Chloe Tomlinson, who presented the bill, expressed that the measure allows residents to "restart the clock" on their existing IDs bearing gender-neutral markers. Moreover, the updated licenses will comply with REAL ID requirements, which recently became mandatory for domestic travel and accessing secure federal facilities.
Advocates, including attorney Monica Allard of the Vermont Queer Legal Professionals, underscored the bill’s importance for ensuring trans and nonbinary individuals can navigate their lives without compromising their identity. While S.123 progresses to the Senate for further consideration, lawmakers are also exploring the introduction of an eight-year driver’s license option, although discussions remain fluid.
The House’s approval marks a crucial step in maintaining Vermont’s commitment to inclusivity in identifying diverse gender identities against a backdrop of federal pushback. The broader implications of these developments will continue to unfold as the debate over identification and civil rights evolves.
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