Gender & Transition

We use our IDs to navigate all areas of life—driving, voting, employment—having inaccurate ID docs can cause a multitude of problems. When someone changes their name after marriage, they update the name printed on their license to reflect the change. A trans person needs the ability to update their identity documents to accurately reflect their gender. There are 92,900 trans adults in Texas, so the inability to update a driver’s license in Texas has a big impact.

In August 2024, Texas DPS suddenly and arbitrarily ordered its employees to stop updating gender markers on people’s drivers’ licenses, even when they are required to do so by court order. Concerningly, DPS is also requiring employees to report any attempts by people to update the sex listed on their driver’s licenses or state IDs. In January of 2025, President Trump issued an executive order that prevented trans Americans from updating the gender markers on passports.

Having an ID that reflects who you are is a basic form of dignity that many take for granted. All people deserve to have accurate representation on their IDs. Correct names and gender markers on identifying documents aids law enforcement in performing essential functions and protects trans people from being outed during a simple traffic stop. Being outed to police or other law enforcement may place trans people in harm’s way. Updating identity documents should be a simple administrative task. Current policies intentionally alienate trans people leaving them vulnerable to exploitation and abuse, while also denying them a simple dignity offered to every other person in this country.

Health care literally saves lives. That’s the point. The care that trans people require should be available and accessible. We know that when trans youth receive care, their mental health is better well into adulthood. Health care should be available to all people in the state of Texas, and not restricted for any group.

In 2023, the Texas Legislature banned health care for trans youth driving doctors and families with trans kids out of the state. In 2024, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission excluded trans care from Medicaid coverage.

As Texas lawmakers continue to restrict access to vital services for trans people, we must continue to support each other. If you are struggling to access care in the State of Texas the Trans Youth Emergency Project may be able to help.

Trans and gender-expansive people are significantly more likely than their peers to be the victims of violence. Actively preventing violence against our trans and gender-expansive neighbors requires safeguarding LGBTQIA+ spaces, a fearless public discussion about the violence that currently exists, and a collaboration of community stakeholders to explore solutions.