Oregon students allowed neither male nor female option

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – Oregon students will be able to select a non-binary gender option starting next school year.

The Oregonian/OregonLive reports the Oregon Department of Education will allow students who don’t identify as male or female to select a third option, “X.”

Oregon became the first state last year to allow residents to mark their gender as “not specified” when they apply for a driver’s license, learner’s permit or identity card.

The action came about after an Oregon court allowed a Portland resident to legally change to non-binary gender in 2016.

The department has previously issued guidance on gender identity by advising schools in 2016 that the individual student is the “person best situated to determine a student’s gender identity.”

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Information from: The Oregonian/OregonLive, http://www.oregonlive.com