Coming Soon in WA State? Gender 'Neutral' Birth Certificates

The Washington State Health Department held a hearing Tuesday, to hear input and comments about a proposal to allow people to put an "x" on a birth certificate, and decline specifying the baby's gender.

According to KUOW Public Radio, the hearing was held because officials say there's a growing demand for people who identify with a different gender than with what they are born, and people who want to leave their options 'open'.

Currently, you can petition to change a baby's gender once it is born, but there is no current option to allow 'no' gender on the certificate.

Under this proposed idea, a child could make a gender change to "x" with permission and after consulting with parents and a doctor--their approval.

Oregon has a new "x" law going into effect January 1, 2018, and the law is already in place in CA.