New Jersey becomes fourth U.S. state to introduce gender neutral birth certificates
Parents in New Jersey will soon be able to register their child as gender-neutral
The move will make it easier for non-binary and transgender people to change their birth certificates in later life
Gender neutral or non-binary people do not identify as male or female
The new law is named after Babs Siperstein, the first elected transgender member of the Democratic National Committee in 2012
Parents in New Jersey will be able to register their child as gender-neutral from February 1.
New legislation will give parents the option of choosing a gender-neutral or non-binary identity on their child's birth certificate, in addition to male and female.
The change will make it easier for non-binary and transgender people to change their birth certificates to affirm their gender identity.
Problems can occur when a child’s birth gender doesn’t match their gender identity.
Though New Jersey has laws that require schools to treat students by their preferred gender, they still face discrimination, bullying and harassment.
Non-binary people don't identify as male or female, and having that option helps protect them from issues which might arise for them in later life.
Ashley Chiappano, who is with the group Garden State Equality, told News12 New Jersey: 'Just because your sex assigned at birth is one thing, it does not necessarily mean that it is something that's going to be consistent with your gender identity throughout your life.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6647307/New-Jersey-fourth-U-S-state-introduce-gender-neutral-birth-certificates.html