Major Airlines Including Delta and American Adding New Gender Options for Non-Binary Passengers
A number of major airlines including Delta and American have announced that they are adding new gender options to accommodate passengers who identify as non-binary so they no longer have to choose between either male or female.
A spokesperson for Airlines for America — an American trade association that represents American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Southwest, United and Hawaiian Airlines — told PEOPLE that members of A4A and the International Air Transport Association have “recently approved a new international standard to account for non-binary IDs” in the flight booking process.
“U.S. airlines value a culture of diversity and inclusion, both in the workplace and for our passengers,” A4A told PEOPLE in a statement.
“We work hard each day to accommodate the needs of all travelers while delivering a safe, secure and enjoyable flight experience.”
The update will be effective on June 1. At this time, passengers can only select “male” or “female.”
Delta, who departed from A4A in 2015, also announced the new gender options, telling The Daily Beast they are “planning to offer a non-binary gender option during the booking process.”
Delta explained to The Daily Best that the change is in support of their “ongoing efforts to accommodate the needs of diverse customers throughout our business.”
Non-binary people don’t identify exclusively identify as either male or female.
On Jan. 1, the DMV began offering California driver’s licenses and identification cards with three different gender options, CBS reported.
Drivers now have the option to select male, female or non-binary.
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Individuals who selected non-binary will receive an ID with an X where it states gender.
California Governor Jerry Brown signed Senate Bill 179 — The Gender Recognition Act — in October 2017.
“It is the policy of the state of California that every person deserves full legal recognition and equal treatment under the law and to ensure that intersex, transgender, and non-binary people have state-issued identification documents that provide full legal recognition of their accurate gender identity,” the act states.
