#Passports

[mapsontheweb]

Strongest passports in each continent.

by the.world.in.maps/instagram

[patricide1885]

Regarding Trump's executive orders

https://www.reddit.com/r/MtF/comments/1i6bbxd/a_legal_researchers_guide_to_trump_antitrans/

With misinformation going wild on this forum and all over the internet, and me having spent the entire day trying to put out the fire, I am going to set the record straight for what Trump's anti-trans executive orders do and don't do:

[1] They DO kickoff a rulemaking process to ban Passport gender changes, but DON'T ban them right away: There will be at least a 60 day comment period before Biden's old rules fall. If you put in an expedited application for a gender change right now (even if you haven't finalized your name change yet for those in process, you can amend your name later but not your gender), you can still self select your new gender if you move NOW! Posting this at the end of inauguration day.If you are able to amend the gender/sex on your Birth Certificate in your birth state and are not nonbinary, you are unaffected as you can apply anew (with surrendering any old Passports beforehand if applicable) with an amended Birth Certificate under both any new or old rules.

Do NOT update your passport. It's too late. Marco Rubio has expedited the change. Only exception is if you never had a passport before and all your documents don't say amended or anything that would tip them off that you're trans. They can see past passports. If they don't know you're trans they will likely just give you a passport based on the info you give none the wiser. There have been reports of people not getting their documents back if they know you are trans.

[2] They DON'T impact Social Security records: Social Security is an independent agency not subject to the whims of the President nor Executive Orders, ran by an official who can only be fired for cause and not for disobedience. Gender change bans on records are not happening right now.

[3] They DO setup effective permission for transphobic officials to try any action through lawsuits, threats, or the rulemaking process any other intimidation of the trans community or attempt to restrict our rights. The traditional institutional guardrails have been taken off. Of course, we will fight many of these in the courts and win (even if SCOTUS decides against protecting trans rights constitutionally) due to most of the big changes he wants needing legally to go through Congress.

[4] They DON'T affect name changes at all, these are managed by states and there is no proposal to change that or not recognize our name change orders.[5] They DON'T change any rights your state gives to you (read up on your state constitutional and state civil rights laws), your federal Civil Rights protections (even if the executive branch refuses to enforce it, you can still take them to court), federal law, the constitution, or anything like that. This ONLY affects how the Executive Branch operates, not anything or anyone else.

[6] Finally, updated Passports with amended gender markers cannot be reversed due to being validly issued under different regulatory regimes. They normally last for ten years before expiring, we will outlast this clown.

[laurenfoxmakesthings]

Concerning the gender marker news...

Alt: Bluesky thread by Shadi Petosky that says:

Again, this does not matter.

I’m literally been talking to people who corrected their gender marker today.

Go do it. You can correct your gender marker with Social Security and all 50 states for free with no legal or medical proof or no other documents changed.

You simply bring in your ID and a completed SS5 form

This is my appointment only but trans folks I’ve had great success walking into any Social Security office and telling them that they have an appointment wether they have one or not

When the security guard asks, if you have an appointment, you say yes then you go to the kiosk machine and take a number and then when you get to the clerk you just tell them you need a quick gender marker correction.

In every single case that we’ve heard about the people have done it immediately it takes less than two minutes.

Here is a know your rights packet with helpful phrases as the POMs manual.'

My comment on this: Please follow Shadi Petosky on bluesky if you can. There's more corrections to misinformation and actions you can do, rather than be panicked into the usual defeatist spirl by every single alert of bad news.

[danepopfrippery]

Be careful my trans and nonbinary darlings. Get a passport now even if its ur assigned gender (i know its awful to say but life and death here)

[sweetfirebird]

whether or not the SAVE Act passes...

Anyone in the US who has ever changed your name, including for marriage or to hide from an abuser, get backups of your important documents, just in case.

You can request certified copies from county clerk offices for your birth and marriage certificates! If you aren't near that county anymore, you can usually mail a notarized request in! Notarizations cost the most in CA and NY, but they are fairly cheap everywhere else. And then you are just paying the county clerk fee. In California, this is, or was, $10 per document requested. Again, other states are usually cheaper.

You would need a certified copy of your birth certificate to get a passport anyway, and if you have a passport, you should be able to get your Real ID from your state without issue.

And if it passes, I want to contribute to or help set up a fund to help people get these things. But also, voting is supposed to be a state's rights issue, so I assume this shit would get challenged. But you know... we live in this hot mess for the time being so. Better safe than sorry.

Passports DO cost more money to get, but if you can get a passport right now, I'd recommend it.

For that you will need the pictures (which you can get done at the post office, as well as sending in the paperwork. You can make an appointment but most don't require that.). You can get the pictures done elsewhere but that costs you money and might get rejected.

You will also need the application fee, and the certified copy of your birth certificate or other proof of citizenship. And the application, all filled out.

A how-to video

In normal times, this is not a stressful procedure, just a little expensive for some of us. It's gonna total about $200 including the county clerk fees.

[bobapril]

And it begins.

There's partial confirmation of these claims from SecState Rubio in this story. And he does sound like there may be more detailed instructions going out to the workers than he wants to state clearly in an interview. https://theintercept.com/2025/01/23/marco-rubio-state-department-passports-gender-trans-nonbinary/

[passportsfortraveltoplanetearth]

PASSPORTS REQUIRED FOR TRAVEL TO THE PLANET EARTH

[allthegeopolitics]

Transgender actress Hunter Schafer has slammed the Trump administration after new US passport listed her gender marker as “M” rather than female. In a TikTok video posted yesterday (February 21), Schafer showed off her new passport which has the “M” marker, despite selecting female when she filled out the paperwork. She started the video by saying she had been given a “harsh reality check” after receiving the passport, as all of her government-issued IDs have listed her as female since she was a teenager.

Continue Reading

[follow-up-news]

Americans can now renew their passports online, bypassing a cumbersome mail-in paper application process that often caused delays. The State Department announced Wednesday that its online renewal system is now fully operational, after testing in pilot programs, and available to adult passport holders whose passport has expired within the past five years or will expire in the coming year. It is not available for the renewal of children’s passports, for first-time passport applicants for renewal applicants who live outside the United States or for expedited applications. “By offering this online alternative to the traditional paper application process, the Department is embracing digital transformation to offer the most efficient and convenient passport renewal experience possible,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement. The department said it estimated that about 5 million Americans would be able to use this service a year. In 2023, it processed 24 million passports, about 40% of which were renewals. After staffing shortages caused mainly by the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in lengthy passport processing delays, the department ramped up hiring and introduced other technological improvements that have reduced wait times by about one-third over last year. It says most applications are now completed in far less than the advertised six weeks to eight weeks and the online renewal system is expected to further reduce that.

[addamatic]

Lawsuit filed: Passports

https://assets.aclu.org/live/uploads/2025/02/orrvtrumpstamped.pdf

It’s been a rough 18 days, good to finally see legal pushback. Thanks to the individuals who agreed to be Plaintiffs!

Edit: Credit goes to u/tordenhecks for bringing up this very important PSA. (I’ll add to consider Expedited processing if/when the time comes): It's possible the court hearing this case initially could file a preliminary injunction forcing the State Department to follow the old rules until this case can be heard. If/when that happens, that is your window to jump on getting a passport if you don't already have one with your correct info. Start setting aside money for the fees now, and be ready to jump through that window immediately if it opens.

[transfloridaresources]

[Photo ID: Light purple background with a dark blue strip at the bottom. A passport is shown in the lower, right corner and Lambda Lega’s logo in the left, upper corner. Text reads: ‘Update: Identity Docs for Trans & Nonbinary People. Current information you need to know.’ /End ID]

[Photo ID: Light purple background with a dark blue strip at the top. Text reads: ‘Identity Docs for Trans & Nonbinary People. In response to the Trump administration’s recent gender identity executive order, and other federal agency actions related to identity documents, Lambda Legal has an updated checklist to help you understand what is happening.’ A screenshot of a website with a white arrow clicking on it is shown under the text. Lambda Legal’s logo is in the bottom, left corner. /End ID]

[Photo ID: Light purple background with a dark blue strip at the top. Text reads: ‘Identity Docs for Trans & Nonbinary People. URGENT UPDATE. Passports: Trans people who have a valid, current U.S. passport, regardless of the gender marker, should NOT apply to renew or change their gender marker OR name at this time. If you have urgent upcoming travel or an emergency need, you should seek out an attorney licensed in your state of residence.’ A social security card, passport book, judge’s gavel and application for U.S. passport are shown under the text. Lambda Legal’s logo is in the bottom, left corner. /End ID]

[Photo ID: Light purple background with a dark blue strip at the top. Text reads: ‘Identity Docs for Trans & Nonbinary People. URGENT UPDATE. Social Security: We recommend that trans people NOT submit a gender marker update request to the Social Security Administration at this time. As of January 31, 2025, the Trump Administration has directed the Social Security Administration to stop processing gender marker updates associated with social security records.’ Social security cards and an application for a social security card with a pen resting on it are shown below the text. Lambda Legal’s logo is in the bottom, left corner. /End ID] 

[Photo ID: Light purple background with a dark blue strip at the top. Text reads: ‘Identity Docs for Trans & Nonbinary People. This resource also includes information about: 01) Identity documents, including: a) Passports b) Social Security c) Immigration records d) Selective services e) State ID documents 02) Tips for accessing legal help, including: a) Things to know b) Actions to consider 03) Contacts for crisis services, including: a) LGBT+ National Hotline b) Trans Lifeline c) The Trevor Project.’ A pen, passport book, and social security card are shown around the border of the text. Lambda Legal’s logo is in the bottom, left corner. /End ID]

[Photo ID:  Light purple background with a dark blue strip at the top. Text reads: ‘Identity Docs for Trans & Nonbinary People. Please note that Lambda Legal will routinely update this checklist with new information and actions for consideration by trans and nonbinary people. And in these difficult times, remember: you do not need the government’s permission to exist.’ A screenshot of a website with a white arrow clicking on it is shown between the text, next to the image of a person standing & holding a trans flag over the back of their head with one arm. Lambda Legal’s logo is in the bottom, left corner. /End ID] Source Website Passports 2025 - What We Know (TFR live doc)

[typewriter-post]

[kalamity-jayne]

[anulight]

Passports! John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Stuart Sutcliffe!

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Orion Rummler and Kate Sosin at The 19th:

Federal agencies are carrying out executive orders from President Donald Trump that all share a common goal: removing transgender and nonbinary people from public life wherever possible. Through restricting access to accurate federal identity documents, threatening to withhold hospitals’ federal funding over gender-affirming care, and erasing trans history on federal websites and in schools, the Trump White House is using the federal government as a tool to make it harder for trans Americans to live openly — and safely — without fear of harassment and discrimination.  Many of these policies are based on Trump’s promise, made during his inauguration speech, that his administration will recognize only “two genders, male and female.” That promise was signed into an executive order on day one of his presidency.  LGBTQ+ rights attorneys are fighting back. Ten lawsuits have been taken up against the Trump administration’s anti-trans policies so far, and four have resulted in temporary restraining orders that pause enforcement. In court, federal judges are regarding Trump’s anti-trans executive orders with skepticism and, in some instances, outright disdain. Through it all, trans Americans are experiencing chaos and confusion — as well as fear and despair — as a result of these policies.  This push to erase trans identity isn’t new. For years, Republican state lawmakers across the country have introduced laws to stop transgender adults and minors from being legally recognized in public life, to redefine legal definitions of sex to exclude trans people, and to block them from the health care and identity documents that they need. Now, that effort is being pursued by a sitting president.  As The 19th covers how this administration is impacting women and LGBTQ+ people, we will be closely reporting on the anti-trans policies enacted by the Trump administration and their effects nationwide. Here are the key anti-trans policies enacted by the Trump White House and their impact so far.

Passports denied | School censorship | Gender-affirming care restrictions | Banning trans girls from school sports | Military ban reinstated | Erasing trans history and resources | Funding slashed for LGBTQ+ programs | Treatment of trans people in federal prison 

Passports denied

The State Department is blocking new passports for trans and nonbinary Americans. U.S. passports with “X” gender markers will no longer be issued, although the agency has stated that existing passports with an “X” marker are valid until replaced or expired.  In practice, this means that trans people trying to obtain passports with a gender marker that matches their physical appearance, gender identity and other identity documents are being rejected. Trans men and transmasculine people are receiving passports back from the agency that declare them to be women, while trans women and transfeminine people are getting passports that state they are male.  [...]

School censorship  

President Trump has directed the federal government to begin a campaign to monitor and influence K-12 curriculum. This includes eliminating federal funding for schools that promote “indoctrination” based on “gender ideology and discriminatory equity ideology.”  This directive isn’t new, although it uses new language. Since 2020, Republicans in red states have tried to restrict teaching critical race theory, Black history, intersectionality and social justice — and bills to restrict how teachers can discuss gender identity and sexual orientation are intertwined with this effort. Florida’s curriculum censorship law, nicknamed “Don’t Say Gay” by LGBTQ+ advocates, is likely the most well-known example of state LGBTQ+ education restrictions.   Trump’s order also prohibits recognition of students’ gender identity, such as by using their correct pronouns, and exposes teachers and staff who support trans students to legal actions by the attorney general. It threatens federal funding for schools that allow trans students to use restrooms and locker rooms that match their gender identity, as well as schools that “deliberately conceal” a child’s trans identity from their parents. 

[...]

Gender-affirming care restrictions

Hospitals in blue states like Massachusetts and New York, where gender-affirming care is protected under state law, stopped providing that care to trans adolescents and young trans adults following an executive order signed by Trump in late January. That’s according to a lawsuit against the administration by major LGBTQ+ advocacy groups. Two federal judges have temporarily blocked enforcement of Trump’s order — but health care access for young trans people in the United States is still largely uncertain.  Some clinics have yet to resume services. Others have taken steps to remove public references to the trans health services that they do still offer, to avoid government scrutiny and federal funding cuts. In other cases, trans patients are being denied equal treatment while still technically receiving the same services.  [...]

Banning trans girls from school sports

After Trump signed an executive order seeking the Justice Department’s help to enforce a ban on trans girls playing sports with other girls in school, the largest college sports governing body quickly fell in line. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) has banned trans women student-athletes from competing in women’s sports, following Trump’s order threatening federal funds for schools that allow trans girls on girls’ teams. But to Trump’s allies, and his government, that doesn’t go far enough.  The Education Department has urged the NCAA, as well as the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), to strip titles, records and awards from transgender women who have competed in women’s sports, per NBC News.  [...]

Erasing trans history and resources

As part of Trump’s mandate against “gender ideology,” public health data was quickly removed from federal government websites. That included decades of HIV research, data on the mental health of girls and LGBTQ+ youth, and information on tobacco use among LGBTQ+ people. Some of these webpages have since reappeared in response to public outcry and a federal judge’s order that they be restored.   [...]

Funding slashed for LGBTQ+ programs  

LGBTQ+ nonprofits say that their services for vulnerable community members are threatened by the Trump administration’s push to pause federal funding, as well as the administration’s specific effort to revoke federal funding related to trans people. 

This piece in The 19th News highlights all the ways the evil Trump Misadministration is erasing trans people from public existence, such as gender-affirming care bans for those under 19, websites erasing trans contributions, gender markers no longer allowed to have an “X”, and bans on trans women from women’s sports.