California Sees Sharp Drop in Teens Identifying as Nonbinary on Driver's Licenses

The number of 16- and 17-year-olds selecting the 'X' gender marker has declined after years of steady growth.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 8:35pm

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An extremely abstracted, out-of-focus photograph of a person's hands holding a California driver's license, the edges blurred in soft pools of warm color and light, conceptually representing the complex personal choices around gender identity and government documentation.As the political climate shifts, some California teens may be hesitant to publicly identify as nonbinary on official documents.Los Angeles Today

After years of steady growth, the number of 16- and 17-year-olds in California identifying as nonbinary on their driver's licenses has dropped sharply, according to new data from the California Department of Motor Vehicles. The option for a nonbinary 'X' gender marker on state driver's licenses was introduced in 2019 under the state's Gender Recognition Act. While the overall number of Californians of all ages selecting the nonbinary marker continues to climb, the trend has reversed among teens, with the figure falling from a peak of 164 16-year-olds in 2023 to just 46 in 2025.

Why it matters

The decline in teens identifying as nonbinary on their driver's licenses raises questions about the broader social trends around gender identity, particularly among younger generations. Experts suggest the drop may be due to a changing political environment with increased legislation targeting transgender and nonbinary issues, leading some teens to avoid officially documenting their identity on government IDs.

The details

In the first year after the nonbinary 'X' marker was introduced in 2019, just 38 16-year-olds selected the option. Numbers rose steadily, peaking in 2023 with 164 16-year-olds. But the trend has since reversed, with the figure falling to 95 in 2024 and then dropping again to just 46 in 2025. A similar pattern appears among 17-year-olds, with nonbinary identifications declining from 418 in 2024 to 203 in 2025. Overall, nonbinary markings on California licenses and IDs across all ages continued to climb modestly, from 3,050 in 2019 to 24,236 in 2025.

  • The option for a nonbinary 'X' gender marker on California driver's licenses was introduced in 2019.
  • In the first year, just 38 16-year-olds selected the nonbinary designation.
  • Numbers peaked in 2023 with 164 16-year-olds identifying as nonbinary.
  • The figure fell to 95 in 2024 and then dropped again to just 46 in 2025.
  • Among 17-year-olds, nonbinary identifications declined from 418 in 2024 to 203 in 2025.

The players

California Department of Motor Vehicles

The state agency that oversees driver's licenses and identification cards, including the introduction of the nonbinary 'X' gender marker in 2019.

Phillip Hammack

A psychology professor at the University of California, Santa Cruz who directs the Sexual & Gender Diversity Laboratory and suggested the drop in teen nonbinary identifications may be due to the changing political environment.

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What they’re saying

“'It's hard not to consider the political situation as part of the story. There's a legitimate fear among young people and their parents of 'Maybe this shouldn't be on my documents right now.''”

— Phillip Hammack, Psychology professor, University of California, Santa Cruz

The takeaway

The sharp decline in California teens identifying as nonbinary on their driver's licenses raises concerns that political and social pressures may be discouraging some young people from openly expressing their gender identity on official documents, even if their private sense of self remains unchanged. This trend highlights the complex and evolving landscape around gender identity, particularly among younger generations.