Cynthia Knowles

Mandating a male or female designation on a license can cause harm to someone whose designation does not align with their appearance in official cases where a license is required for identification. John Smith is stopped for a traffic violation but the driver appears to be a woman. How much explaining is needed that has nothing to do with the violation, and can we ensure that in every encounter a person is treated with compassion and respect? Besides, why not allow someone to choose the designation that feels most comfortable in a state that is supposed to value freedom?