Lawsuit challenges Arkansas policy that removed option to allow gender neutral marker on IDs
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/lawsuit-challenges-arkansas-policy-that-removed-option-to-allow-gender-neutral-marker-on-ids/ar-AA1nWJ52?ocid=windirect&cvid=dd3e60727e664d338609cba530b39434&ei=46
Story by Ryan Reynolds (30 April 2024)
On Tuesday, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Arkansas filed a lawsuit against the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA), fighting against a rule that restricts the ability of transgender and nonbinary Arkansans to self-identify their gender on driver's licenses.
ACLU filed the complaint on behalf of five people, which argues that the emergency rule was implemented "without any documented justification or compliance" under the Arkansas Administrative Procedure Act. According to the organization, there should've been a 30-day public notice and comment period.
"The law requires agencies to listen to the people affected by their rule," ACLU of Arkansas Legal Director John Williams said. "Agencies cannot fabricate emergencies to evade that responsibility. Having failed to seek public input as required by law, DFA will now hear from us in court."
Arkansas officials announced on March 12 a revision to a state policy that previously allowed a person to use an "X" marker instead of a gender on their license or ID card. The new policy will only allow someone to choose "male" or "female" on their identification.
Given a choice, I chose "female".
I was not required to drop my pants as evidence.
But for my address, I had to supply two pieces of mail as evidence that the address is mine.