What does it feel like to be a transgender American now? “We are scared, frankly,” Dr. Devon Ojeda Advocate trans equalitytell Frommer’s.
Since returning to the White House, President Donald Trump appears determined to limit the rights of multinational corporations. One of the first batch of execution commands New government issuance January asserted: “Acknowledging men and women is the policy of the United States,” they “unchanged.”
In addition to affecting trans people’s affairs related to healthcare, education, sports and many other aspects of daily life, the Trump administration’s policies have also made trans people’s freedom of travel more difficult (as well for anyone who is non-binary or bisexual.
Trump administration’s anti-trade passport changes
To keep pace with Trump’s order The State Council suspends All passport applications designed to change gender markings and all applications requiring the use of the “X” sexual markings, not “M” or “F”.
As Ojeda said, the U.S. government wants to “force us to record the gender assigned at birth, not our gender identity.” According to the advocates of trans equalitya nonprofit organization focused on the political and legal rights of transgender people in the United States, with the change in passports attributed to efforts to “destroy trans people’s passports” and extended to limit their freedom of travel.
Ojeda believes that the ultimate goal of the State Department is to “basically say that people are fraudulent when they are assigned to women at birth and make it difficult for trans people to legally transition.”
The American Civil Liberties Union has File a lawsuit The argument against the government is that the new passport policy violates the constitutional rights of transgender and non-binary personnel because they mistakenly withhold travel documents from U.S. citizens or force them to use documents containing misinformation.
At the same time, advocates of transgender have initiated Freedom of flight It is designed to flood the State Department’s comment portal for rule changes during a brief public calculation period.
To participate, you need to act quickly: The deadline for the State Council to receive comments about passport renewal, name change and correction is Thursday, March 20, 11:59 ET.
The dangers of traveling while transgender
Ojeda believes that besides being discriminatory, the Trump administration’s passport rules targeting travelers leapfrogs put them at risk.
According to the latest survey by advocates, “22% of respondents reported verbally harassed, assaulted or denied service after presenting an ID that does not match their speech,” Ojeda told us.
“when [border security officials] See f [on your ID] Then they looked up and saw a guy with a beard, how do you explain it. ” he said.
According to Ojeda, the current political climate has already had a chilling impact on travel among members of the trans community.
“Personally, I’m talking about going back to visit Peru this year,” he said. “I’m a trans-immigrant, Peruvian American. I was born in Lima, Peru. I’m worried that if I go to visit some families this year, I won’t be able to come back.”
He said Ojeda’s U.S. ID files are currently in order, “I updated my passport immediately after the election,” but he is still nervous.
“It makes me feel like they’re shrinking our world,” he said. “I have family I want to see this year, and when Trump takes office and starts changing the rules, those plans go away.”
Cross-traveller advice and resources
For records, trans passports that already have a “X” gender mark or gender mark are likely to continue traveling with gender identity (even if it is different from the gender assigned at birth).
However, Ojeda advises “if you want a new passport or a newer passport, I won’t put your actual gender identity there right now”. He said it was a security issue, even if “sucked, it was invalid” to resolve the inability to correctly identify your identity file.
Biometrics in passports can now record unique personal details such as iris scans and fingerprints. Now this other data is stored through microchips, many of the data Other countries begin issuing passports This reflects gender identity, or their options for gender-neutral designation, bringing our documents into conflict with standard practices elsewhere.
Ojeda advises trans people to “talk with a lawyer before updating or applying for any ID or traveling internationally” and “accept that you may not get the desired gender identity mark on the document.”
Can be from civil rights organizations (e.g. Lambda legal,,,,, Good government lawyerthis ACLUAnd Ojeda’s own Advocate trans equality.
On the websites maintained by these groups, you will find your own rights information, advocacy opportunities, and a catalog of companies that provide legal aid.
If you are concerned about costs, you can provide free legal services. To help find any other questions related to LGBTQ+ affairs, please contact this question Lambda Legal Help Desk.
“I don’t want to scare people, but I do want people to think about risk assessments. There is a plan in which you can identify the legal person,” Ojeda said. If you’re in trouble while traveling. “Write a phone number on your arm. Travel with your partner. Make sure you have witnesses.”
What can people do?
Exceed Submit comments to the State Council Registration does not approve of the change in the passport of trans people and the deadline is coming soon, so ticktock– Ojeda advises Cisgender Allies to contact lawmakers at the state and federal levels to let them know where you stand.
Actually, you might want to consider every opportunity to practice this noisy ally, Ojeda said.
“Speak loudly.” He urged. “If you are online at TSA and you see a transgender person being harassed, unplug your phone and introduce or intervene. We have to be less compliance and more brave. This means when transgender people face discrimination and violence.”
Advocates participating in the transgender equality and free driving campaign by submitting comments to the U.S. State Department on anti-trading passport measures, please go to transition.org. The federal government will accept public comments on Thursday, March 20 at 11:59 pm ET.