The District began offering a non-binary gender option on driver’s licenses Tuesday, becoming the first jurisdiction in the country to offer such an alternative.

In place of “M” or “F” – male or female – applicants can now choose the letter “X,” a gender-neutral identifier, on District-issued licenses, Mayor Muriel Bower announced Friday.

Bowser said the change is a way for city government to affirm the gender identity of LGBTQ community members in the District.

“Washington, DC has long been a leader in LGBTQ rights and gender issues, and this change is the most recent example of our city’s commitment to inclusivity,” Bowser said in a release. “I hope to see other jurisdictions follow in our footsteps.”

D.C.’s motor vehicle department worked with the National Center for Transgender Equality to put the change in effect. Bower said the new option would have an immediate positive impact the transgender community in the city.

While the District is the first region to implement the gender neutral identifier, Oregon was the first state to approve the non-binary “X” option and will add the identifier to its driver’s licenses on July 3.