At Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), we are committed to serving all Oregonians equitably. Achieving that goal doesn’t stop with infrastructure planning or community engagement. It also requires a culture of inclusion that reaches everyone who interacts with our work.
Transgender Awareness Week, celebrated annually between Nov. 13 and 19, is about shining a light on the experiences and challenges faced by transgender individuals in society, including within workplaces and public spaces. For our agency, understanding these challenges is critical for creating a safe, supportive, and welcoming environment for all employees and customers, regardless of gender identity.
Transgender people are part of the fabric of our communities. They are our neighbors, family members, co-workers and partners. Unfortunately, data shows they endure disproportionate amounts of harassment, unemployment, poverty and homelessness. Basic things we may take for granted — like navigating bathrooms in rest stops, safety when commuting, or even the ID process at the DMV — can be points of discomfort or anxiety for people who are transgender.
Driver’s license gender markers
Oregon has made great strides in alleviating some of those concerns. In 2017, Oregon became the first state in the country to recognize non-binary people (who may identify as both male and female, somewhere in between or outside of these categories) on their driver’s licenses, offering “X” as an alternative to “M” or “F.” This has made a huge difference for non-binary and transgender people for whom using an ID marked “M” or “F” is inaccurate or even dangerous. And in 2021, House Bill 3041 passed, separating the definition of “gender identity” from “sexual orientation” and added it to state laws addressing protections against discrimination.
While gender identity continues to appear as “sex” on the Oregon driver’s license and ID cards due to statute, DMV recently changed “sexual identifier” to “gender marker” on our website to be more inclusive to people who are transgender and non-binary. We also developed a flyer describing how to easily change your name and gender marker at DMV. The team joined the ODOT Pride+ Employee Resource Group at the Salem Pride Festival this summer to distribute the flyers and help with community engagement.
As we seek to provide excellent customer service, these are the kinds of steps we can take to make a difference, especially for the most vulnerable in our communities.
Making inclusion safer, easier
“Getting your state identification with your gender marker updated and your real name is a life-altering experience for many transgender people,” a DMV customer named Liana shared in the fall of 2023. “An updated state identification carries with it not just the joy and affirmation of being recognized by the state for who you are, but the safety it provides when presenting an ID that no longer outs you.”
What’s more, when Liana arrived at a Portland DMV, she was overcome with relief when the staff person assisting her was also transgender.
“The deep worries of, ‘Will they accept who I am?’ Do they disagree with my very existence? Do they disagree with my right to update my gender marker and could that lead to them purposely fouling up my application?’ all immediately melted away,” Liana said.
“I cannot express enough the scale and importance this DMV employee and their representation of our community has had on me. So much so that I will probably never forget their name as they made me feel safe during a complicated and scary process.”
Join ODOT and Oregon DMV in celebrating Transgender Awareness Week! The Human Rights Campaign also offers Frequently Asked Questions that can help you learn more about the community. The website also offers several resources on how to be an ally, in the workplace and in the world, and a guide for trans people transitioning in the workplace.
Chris Crabb is the DMV Public Information Office and the proud mother of a transgender daughter. Sara Keck is the DMV Change and Engagement Team Communication Lead.
