Hi everyone,
I'm very pre-everything at the minute and i'm trying to plan my transition carefully (i'm just that kind of person haha)
But I was wondering, when I do start going full time, how does a trans person go about using their ID? In the UK as far as I know I wouldn't be able to change my ID for a few years. I'm talking about doing things like purchasing alcohol in stores, entering bars/clubs with my friends etc.
I don't really want to have to stand there and answers questions or explain myself to shop keepers or bar staff but I guess i'm not going to have a choice? How did you all go about things like this?
I worked in several positions that required me to check people's IDs for entry or purchases. I never looked at the name or gender on the ID, just the picture to see that it matched who was standing in front of me, and the birthday to see that they were legally allowed to do whatever it was they wanted to do.
I wouldn't worry about it too much unless you look drastically different. If that is the case, I would update your picture.
Probably not a big deal if you don't make it a big deal. Most people when checking just check the date, because they either don't have the time to check and criticize every detail or they just don't care to. Before I got my ID and gender marker changed, my pic looked horrible and of course it said 'M'. Name was ambiguous enough. Did anyone care? Nope! I might have gotten one or two odd looks out of the two and a half years that I was getting carded after going full-time, but nothing was said. In fact, I think for the most part people assume I'm female regardless of what my ID says. I've had a pharmacist puzzled by the 'M' in the computer system and corrected it herself without giving it any thought. And the guy that changed the gender marker on my ID thought they initially made a mistake and I was getting it corrected. :P Cognitive dissonance works wonders in situations like this, lol. Just be confident and don't call attention to it.
I started transitioning and presenting in public before I changed my photo ID. I never went to buy liquor because of similar concerns, but I did go out to clubs often. I never once had a problem. I would just get weird looks sometimes, but they wouldn't cause a scene or even say anything about. They'd just give me a quick "Go ahead" lol They would also tell me to go to the girls line or say 'certain amount' for women. So Like others have said, if you don't make a fuss and go with confidence, then I don't think you'll have much of a problem. Best of luck!!!!
I guess don't change it right away, wait until you have already gone through part of the process of transition and/or are presenting the target gender visually. Far as I know there is no actual time limit on it, except for that involved in waiting for a change of official documents, i.e. passport, or confirmation from a doctor for a gender change to be made. Otherwise I have not been told it is a long wait?
I'm trying to get a provisional driving licence - you need a passport or other ID and a deedpoll (possibly also a statutory declaration, it's confusing because of the England/ Scotland laws being different) to explain why the name is different. I think you can put the title that you want on it and the gender marker seems to be a number code and not a F/M so if you can't get your correct gender on it, not many people will notice.
I put M and my new name on my forms, and I'm going to send them my deedpoll, but i haven't completed the process yet, so I can't say that it'll go through.
So, it may be possible to get a new driving licence if you already have one. They're cheaper than new passports and for passports you need a GRC - although those are supposed to be becoming easier to get in the UK, as of yesterday I think!