The Albany Times Union reports that on June 24 Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed The Gender Recognition Act into law. The bill allows New Yorkers to use an "x" as a non-binary sex designation on their driver's licenses and to list themselves as "parent" on birth certificates. "Every New Yorker deserves to be free from discrimination and have state-issued identification and processes that respect them for who they are, recognize their gender identity and protect their safety," Cuomo said in a statement. "New York continues to lead the way in ensuring LGBTQ people are treated equally in every part of the law and society, and this bill is another landmark that ensures New Yorkers can express ourselves for who we are." The measure also makes it easier for someone to change the sex designation on their birth certificate. Before a person was required to publish their new and previous names, address, place of birth and date of birth in a designated newspaper, which some lawmakers said exposed people to potential harassment and abuse. "It remains incredibly hard for many New Yorkers to get the identification documents they require for travel, to get a job, and even to go to school. This bill will change that, making it easier for gender non-conforming, transgender, non-binary, and intersex New Yorkers — including minors — to get IDs that accurately reflect their identity," said state Sen. Brad Hoylman. Read more about this story in the Albany Times Union.