DeSantis Admin Revokes Trans Person's License Over Gender Marker Change
Florida's DMV plans an audit for past errors, potentially increasing risks for trans people in the state.
Link to Full Article
Truthout - Zane McNeill, Truthout
published January 9, 2025

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis's administration has revoked the driver's license of a transgender content creator who publicly shared how they updated the gender marker on their license.

Last year, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) issued a letter stating that transgender residents would no longer be allowed to change the gender marker on their driver's licenses. The letter claimed that gender is the same as biological sex and asserted that gender identity is "neither immutable nor objectively verifiable." It also warned that individuals who listed a gender identity inconsistent with their biological sex could face "criminal and civil penalties," including the potential "revocation of his or her driver's license."

[T]he FLHSMV in a letter on Monday informed Rose that it had canceled their driver's license and replaced it with one that incorrectly listed their gender as male.

Florida is one of only four states that completely bans people from changing the gender marker on their licenses. Additionally, courts across the country have consistently recognized gender identity as a protected characteristic and have ruled in favor of allowing transgender people to update their legal documentation to match their gender identity.

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Make sure that you have a Federal photo ID, such as a passport or Veteran ID, in addition to any State ID. Check your driver's license and make sure it has a gold star in the upper right corner. That marks it as Real ID compliant for federal purposes, such as when traveling by air or visiting a federal building. The gold star means that your identity has been verified and that verification meets federal standards.

You might want to get this done BEFORE Kristi Noem becomes Director of Homeland Security. Who knows what she might do later? The Homeland Security Real ID website can be found here:
https://www.dhs.gov/real-id/about-real-id