The City of Boston will no longer require residents to disclose their sex or gender on marriage license applications, a change made in accordance with new gender-aware guidelines launched on Aug. 29 that seek to be more gender inclusive.

Mayor Marty Walsh’s nomination as Secretary of Labor for the Biden administration marks a new mayoral race for Boston — one that could quickly become historic. The dawn of a new era in Boston government marks an opportunity to reflect on the city’s largely white history, and the power and influence a Boston mayor uniquely possesses.

Boston is a city rich with diverse backgrounds and culture. It deserves to be served by those who appreciate these attributes instead of diminishing them down to a joke.