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Oregon Judge Grants New Gender Designation

Courtesy of the Oregon Department of Transportation

An Oregon judge has allowed a transgender person to change their legal gender designation to non binary.

Jamie Shupe, a 52-year-old who retired from the U.S. Army in 2000, requested the change.

Shupe’s lawyer, Lake Perriguey, said he’s already contacted the Oregon DMV to let them know they’ll need a new box for non-binary people to tick. He had this advice for people faced with forms that only offer the choice of male or female: “Just write in a new box, or a new option and check it."

Experts think the designation may be a legal first for the nation. Last year, a high court in France allowed a resident there to register as gender neutral.

Copyright 2016 Oregon Public Broadcasting

Kristian Foden-Vencil is a reporter and producer for Oregon Public Broadcasting. He specializes in health care, business, politics, law and public safety.