The Government Doesn't Determine My Identity, But Yes, Affirming ID Documents for Trans People Matter

I refuse to be a persona non grata in my own fucking country.

ID update rules are rapidly changing under Trump

Even before Trump’s Republican Party ramped up their attacks on trans rights (672 anti-trans bills were filed at the state and federal levels in 2024) or spent $200+ million on anti-trans advertising, ID changes for trans Americans were a pain in the ass. Our identification systems are a blend of state and federal control, so you have to navigate both sets of confusing rules and procedures.

State laws for updating names and gender markers on driver’s licenses and state ID cards vary wildly—from simply declaring change(s) and obtaining a court order to meeting particular surgical requirements. Gender-affirming surgeries are expensive, have years-long wait times, and require going through multiple gatekeepers in the health care system. Also, not every trans person needs or desires surgery. We’ll cover more of that minutiae in a future post.