New policy blocks transgender Texans from changing sex on driver's licenses

[Lori Dee]

New policy blocks transgender Texans from changing sex on driver's licenses
Link to Full Article
The Texas Newsroom | By Lauren McGaughy
Published August 21, 2024 at 12:00 PM CDT

Transgender Texans will not be able to change the sex listed on their driver's licenses, according to a policy change rolled out this week.

Under the new policy, Texans will not be able to change the sex on their licenses unless it is to fix a clerical error.

The change comes as conservative states across the country move to make it more difficult for transgender Texans to update their documents with the sex that matches their gender identity.

Transgender Texans could previously change the sex listed on their driver's license by bringing an original certified court order or an amended birth certificate verifying the change, according to an archived version of the Department of Public Safety license website.

As of Wednesday, this information was no longer on the website.

Ian Pittman, an Austin-based family law practitioner, ... has been helping transgender Texans update their identification documents for 15 years. He is still advising his clients to proceed as normal with changing their birth certificates and social security cards, which are done through other agencies.

Pittman believes the agency did not follow state rulemaking procedures in making the policy change. He said it pits the agency against the courts.

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[Sephirah]

One half of me just wants to roll my eyes, the other half is like "Because Texas."

This is so silly.

[imallie]

Yes, ridiculous. Here in Massachusetts, when I went in to get my new license I, of course, had to produce my certified court order to show proof of my new name, but in order to change my gender I had to face the difficult challenge of checking the F box instead of the M box. 😉

[Lori Dee]

in order to change my gender I had to face the difficult challenge of checking the F box instead of the M box.

Oh, the horror!