ST. PAUL  — Minnesota has begun issuing driver’s licenses that don’t identify recipients only as either male or female, but as nonbinary if they prefer.

M.J. Zappa, 26, got one of the first. Zappa, of Medicine Lake, arrived at a state Driver and Vehicle Services office in St. Paul at 7:30 a.m. on Monday to take advantage of the change in policy. Zappa was welcomed in 30 minutes before the office opened and walked out with a temporary license and an assurance that a new card with an X where the M or F usually goes would soon come in the mail.

“I paid extra to fast-track it, so they said likely within seven days,” Zappa said.

Zappa, who grew up male and is known legally as Minnesota J Zappa, had requested a nonbinary license before but was told to come back in October after new software had been installed that would allow the option.

“I wish it would have happened sooner,” Zappa said, but added, “I was pleasantly surprised at how smooth it went.”

The new option came with the Monday rollout of new driver’s license software that allows people to register for Real IDs, which are fortified ID cards that meet federal standards for citizens to fly and enter some federal sites. The term nonbinary encompasses an array of descriptions for anyone who does not identify as male or female.