Reports of US Documentation Agents Confiscating Trans Peoples Passports
Source in pic: https://homestead.social/@lily/113878607769958499
Secondary confirmation: https://bsky.app/profile/erinryanhey.bsky.social/post/3lggfjx55vk2w
Anecdotally, I've seen several more reports.
I'm disappointed that the majority of top level replies to this post is a bunch of people deciding to jump in and question its validity. Yeah, it may not be true. But it also could be true, because bigots feel empowered at the moment and may well act in the way described even if they're not technically "meant" to.
So yes, express caution and don't assume everything you read is true, but conversely don't come in to a queer space, in the middle of an active movement against gender diverse folk, and fill the comment section with denials and second guessing, as if everything is fine and its business as usual, as if people are being unreasonable for being concerned
I'm disappointed that you're so indifferent about the truth. Leaving this misinformation to spread does real damage to trans people, who might now become too afraid to change their gender marker. Even when, as many have pointed out, there was no change of policy and this is mostly handled at the state level.
No one knows the truth here. I don't know whether it happened or not.
But what I do know is that a bunch of people who are not normally in this space suddenly joining in the conversation to tell trans people that they're being unreasonable for worrying about stuff like this is not on. One or two comments, whatever, but when the majority of comments are non regulars telling trans people the world is ok, despite it clearly not being, it's time to step in.
Once codified into law, would the recent executive order not invalidate the legal identification of everyone who doesn't have their sex assigned at birth listed?
A [State] department webpage that described how people could change their gender marker was taken offline, and Chase Strangio, an ACLU lawyer, said it’s unlikely that any new application to change the gender marker on a passport will be approved.
This isn't true, at least not entirely. I work at an office that accepts passport applications and we haven't received any communication regarding gender markers from the new administration. I can't speak to whether this is the policy at regional passport centers, and I fully expect these Project 2025 sacks of shit to come out with something hateful sooner than later, but at the moment, nothing has been issued.
It’s possible that the agent that did this did so understanding that they would face no consequences for it, regardless of whether it was true or not. Which means regardless of whether it’s official policy, it may be something trans people want to take into account before handing over any documents.
Yup, this is my guess. Whether or not it’s official policy doesn’t matter; The bigot behind the clerk’s desk is confiscating paperwork regardless. It’s possible their superiors don’t even know about it, and they’re just quietly shredding the IDs without telling anyone else in the office.
But the important point is that the bigot feels empowered to do so, because they don’t believe they’ll face any repercussions for it. We need to make bigots afraid again…
Your, or even any, office not receiving official orders doesn't make this not true.
Not to sound insensitive, but this is just a social media post quoting another social media post without proof or the ability to verify anything.
Seconded. In these times, evidence is key to avoiding unnecessary panic. It is pretty easy to get with the technology we have in our pockets.
If you experience this, please collect whatever information you can to establish a pattern or keep a historical record.
Edit: I am not discounting this person's experience. Evidence is important when you are trying to get people on board with your cause. Otherwise it might come off as fear mongering.
Just going to leave this here for the denial club:
RUBIO ORDERS STATE DEPARTMENT TO STOP ISSUING ACCURATE PASSPORTS TO TRANS PEOPLE
Stop issuing "x" passports isn't the same as confiscating existing documents, let alone for everyone who requests any change (as this post claims). Also this only applies to the federal government.
I have a friend who preemptively deadnamed themselves and put their born-sex on their passport like a month ago. It’s not right
As in, they reverted their name? Why?
Because they were worried about their passport not being considered valid if they try to leave the country. They live in a dangerous place to be queer.
Dr. Friedrich Wilhelm Kritzinger: That is not - no, that is contrary to what the Chancellery has been told. I have directly been assured - I have - that - purge the Jews, yes, but to annihilate them - that we have undertaken to systematically annihilate all the Jews of Europe - that possibility has personally been denied, to me, by the Führer!
Reinhard Heydrich: And it will continue to be.
Conspiracy, 2000, based on the translations of the Wannsee Conference, 1942, Berlin
Good quote.
And in a similar fashion to what is happening here, when survivors managed to escape first Nuremberg laws Germany, then ghettos and eventually death camps across Europe and report to the outside world what was being done to them, they were categorically ignored, and dismissed as fantasists and fear mongers (those damn Jews, trying to guilt us in to letting them in to our country!) for a good few years, while the extermination only intensified.
People who will believe a fascist government, but not its victims, are telling on themselves, and are actively participating in our oppression.
Did the US ever issue passports with an X gender marker for its own citizens? I didn't think they had, so what this reads like to me is that I, an Australian, would be detained at the border.
It's also a more extreme act than mere confiscation if it's being done to American citizens. I'll also note that the X gender marker is, in part, intended for use by intersex people. Alongside the recent EO erasing us from public life, from using any bathrooms.
I don't know, I guess the point I'm trying to make is please have solidarity for us intersex folks. Please talk about us, about how it may be affecting us.
The US did issue passports with an x gender marker. The first one was issued in 2021 after a lawsuit, and the option was on the official paperwork in 2022. Most would usually advise against doing so as many countries do not recognize the X gender, and would deny entry as a result. Be aware of where you want to travel and that those countries are accepting before you commit to the X marker.
That was before the newest administration. It remains to be seen how things will play out in future as many executive orders will be blocked in the courts. Executive orders are the lowest tier federal legislation, overruled by nearly everything else.
This is not official Government policy. It's just one transphobic employee getting a bit ahead of themselves.
It certainly hasn’t stopped people from reading one social media post on Mastodon and tearing around the internet shouting “BREAKING NEWS”.
Thanks random Central_Committee chatter who kicked off an hour-long detour of my workday trying to verify this
You know, when the special designations came out my generational trauma came up and all I can think of was choosing to get a Star of David and juden written on you.
I always thought this was a trap.
god that's absolutely fucked, i thought you all might have some more time left before shit like this started popping up
sharing everywhere i can
I guess that's one way to stop minorities from voting. Keep/encourage strict voter identification laws, then take away identification from the undesirables...
does anyone know what happens if you got your name changed in time, but haven't had time to update DL/birth certificate? it's updated with social security and i have my new ss card. thx
Those are handled at the state level, so it’ll probably depend on whether you’re in a red state trying to roll out similar policies ASAP or not. If you’re in a blue state or there have been no announced changes I’d try to get it changed sooner rather than later.