SGI offering option to leave sex designation field blank on licences

Driver’s licences in Saskatchewan are now more inclusive.

As of Tuesday, SGI is introducing the option to leave the sex designation field blank on licences or photo ID cards instead of having an “M” for male, “F” for female or “X” for unspecified. That latter option became available in March of 2019.

“The option to have no sex designation on identification and licences is part of SGI’s commitment to inclusiveness,” Penny McCune, chief operating officer of the Auto Fund, said in a media release.

“We have customers who wish to refrain from identifying with any sex on their identification. This change gives them flexibility in how they are identified on SGI documents.”

The option is available to all customers of any age. They don’t have to provide documentation to remove the sex designation and there won’t be a charge to make the change to a driver’s licence or photo identification card.

Customers can ask a motor licence issuer to change their licence. However, the company did offer one caution to those interested in the option.

“Changes to accommodate individuals with diverse gender expressions or those who do not wish to disclose their sex are new and have not been universally adopted by all organizations, businesses and government agencies,” the SGI release said.

“As a result, SGI cannot guarantee that a Saskatchewan-issued driver’s licence or photo identification card with either the ‘X’ (Unspecified) sex designation or no sex (blank) designation will be accepted by other organizations, in Canada or internationally.”