State Legislature Passes Gender Recognition Act

By Tat Bellamy-Walker & Matt Tracy

Posted on June 10, 2021

Both chambers of the State Legislature passed a bill allowing New Yorkers to update their state IDs and birth certificates with a gender-neutral “x” designation while also waiving a rule requiring name changes to be published in newspapers.

The Gender Recognition Act, led by out gay lawmakers Brad Hoylman, the lead sponsor in the upper house, and Daniel O’Donnell, the lead sponsor in the lower chamber, cleared the State Senate on June 8 and the State Assembly on June 10. It now goes to Governor Andrew Cuomo’s desk.