Well worth the read. Thank you. I changed the gender marker on my Florida D.L. in late ‘22. Already under DeSantis’ rule I can be charged with fraud. This is the “free state of Floriduh”.
Getting things in order with the SSA just required an appointment, no problem.
Lastly Christmas may come early for me in the form of an amended gender birth certificate. That only required an original signed document from my healthcare provider and a copy of my driver’s license. It’s currently en route to me via priority mail from Juneau, AK.
you just helped this nonbinary trans person help their trans husband a whole lot. we have been waiting this whole time for the state to update his birth certificate (which should have been changed a decade ago but it ‘fell through the cracks’). we didn’t realize we could just do this. thank you!
This advice is so counterintuitive. That's exactly why I called it out.
If you can get to a Social Security office this week, you will know that update went through (make sure to tell your employer as they need to issue your W2 the same way as it reads with Social Security (I found that out the hard way last year).
Did you read the publish date and the first paragraph saying this article is now an archive? People got their documents through the system before the changes because I published this.
Thanks for the info, I decided against it as I'm pretty used to being misgendered and the risk of being outed to my family isn't worth it, but it's Still useful info.
Shame that by the time I can safely change these things, I probably won't. But oh well.
And, this is me making sure you saw the statement at the top of the article stating that this article is now an archive. The Trump Administration has shut down gender marker updates for passports. I believe that it's also shut down for social security information as well.
The deadline is sooner for passports, that’s why it’s is first. Social Security is updated on the spot when you go into an office. Passports take weeks to process.
The order between the two is not on importance, it’s based on getting everything in before the new administration takes over.
Other than the cost of the passport picture, I’m not sure why everyone can’t get one. The article linked to a resource that completely sponsored another reader in getting theirs updated. If you are in a red state where updating your documentation is not an option, this will give you a legal id with your correct gender for 10 years. We don’t know what is coming, so I’d strongly recommend getting this document if you can.
Social security is also critical. Make an appointment and walk in to an office if you can. But you won’t get anything tangible back.
I 100% concur that the system is broken. The site I referenced (transdocproject.com) has levels of financial assistance available. I am not directly affiliated with those resources, so I don't have any additional information about financial assistance from them. I also concur that at the Social Security office, you are at the mercy of the person you see to make the update in the system. I'm sorry the process has been so challenging for you.
Can you please post a link to the new policy you cited that states you need proof of travel to expedite a passport? Since your initial comment this morning, I’ve looked into this and can’t find anything online stating that. Expediting is a different category than emergency or urgent service, which are not services I covered in the article. Expediting is service on 2-3 weeks, not including shipping time. Thank you!
Hi Sarah. It's great seeing you over on other posts! Perhaps you've seen my post about this already (and what I decided to do on my end), but I just want to validate your concerns. Each person's response to such changes seems to vary. I'm sure you'll do the best with your judgment as you all talk as a family.
There are downsides with all options, unfortunately. Really, being trans or nonbinary itself is a target in current times. The balance is between additional threat level and having a non-affirming identifier.
As far as I know, social security is binary gender markers only - there’s no X option sadly. I just checked again and that’s still the case
Good catch. Social Security only has M or F currently. I’ll update the article shortly.
TY for this update!
I have been on a green card for more than 5 years.
This has made my citizenship application less complicated.
The citizenship application allows me to self identify as female and change my name, & also has the option to update my Social Security info.
I am also in the process of changing my name & gender in my home country on my birth cert & passport.
I will check with my lawyer about how changing my gender marker with Social Security might affect the already submitted citizenship application.
Again: TY!
Thank you for the info.
Well worth the read. Thank you. I changed the gender marker on my Florida D.L. in late ‘22. Already under DeSantis’ rule I can be charged with fraud. This is the “free state of Floriduh”.
Getting things in order with the SSA just required an appointment, no problem.
Lastly Christmas may come early for me in the form of an amended gender birth certificate. That only required an original signed document from my healthcare provider and a copy of my driver’s license. It’s currently en route to me via priority mail from Juneau, AK.
The rest will follow.
A lot of post offices also process passports.
Thanks for this. I’m currently transitioning to male and on testosterone, hoping to get top surgery before Medicaid cuts off gender affirming surgery.
you just helped this nonbinary trans person help their trans husband a whole lot. we have been waiting this whole time for the state to update his birth certificate (which should have been changed a decade ago but it ‘fell through the cracks’). we didn’t realize we could just do this. thank you!
You are so welcome!
This advice is so counterintuitive. That's exactly why I called it out.
If you can get to a Social Security office this week, you will know that update went through (make sure to tell your employer as they need to issue your W2 the same way as it reads with Social Security (I found that out the hard way last year).
This should be restacked and cross posted everywhere you go help trans folks.
This article is SO MISLEADING.
I would not attempt to update ANY papers for any change as they HOLD YOUR DOCUMENTS!!!!
Did you read the publish date and the first paragraph saying this article is now an archive? People got their documents through the system before the changes because I published this.
It’s not misleading, just outdated
Thanks for the info, I decided against it as I'm pretty used to being misgendered and the risk of being outed to my family isn't worth it, but it's Still useful info.
Shame that by the time I can safely change these things, I probably won't. But oh well.
I’m glad you had the chance to think this through, run your personal risk calculation, and make the decision that’s best for you.
To be fair, it's pretty easy to just ask people to call you by a different name (as my name would be the only thing I want changed)
But yeah, I'm glad I was able to think about it.
And, this is me making sure you saw the statement at the top of the article stating that this article is now an archive. The Trump Administration has shut down gender marker updates for passports. I believe that it's also shut down for social security information as well.
The deadline is sooner for passports, that’s why it’s is first. Social Security is updated on the spot when you go into an office. Passports take weeks to process.
The order between the two is not on importance, it’s based on getting everything in before the new administration takes over.
Other than the cost of the passport picture, I’m not sure why everyone can’t get one. The article linked to a resource that completely sponsored another reader in getting theirs updated. If you are in a red state where updating your documentation is not an option, this will give you a legal id with your correct gender for 10 years. We don’t know what is coming, so I’d strongly recommend getting this document if you can.
Social security is also critical. Make an appointment and walk in to an office if you can. But you won’t get anything tangible back.
I 100% concur that the system is broken. The site I referenced (transdocproject.com) has levels of financial assistance available. I am not directly affiliated with those resources, so I don't have any additional information about financial assistance from them. I also concur that at the Social Security office, you are at the mercy of the person you see to make the update in the system. I'm sorry the process has been so challenging for you.
Can you please post a link to the new policy you cited that states you need proof of travel to expedite a passport? Since your initial comment this morning, I’ve looked into this and can’t find anything online stating that. Expediting is a different category than emergency or urgent service, which are not services I covered in the article. Expediting is service on 2-3 weeks, not including shipping time. Thank you!
Perfect and thank you!
This was an over and above response. I appreciate you posting all of this.
That's a good question. I don't have the knowledge (specifically the lived experience of an X identity) where I'm comfortable wading into this one.
Hi Sarah. It's great seeing you over on other posts! Perhaps you've seen my post about this already (and what I decided to do on my end), but I just want to validate your concerns. Each person's response to such changes seems to vary. I'm sure you'll do the best with your judgment as you all talk as a family.
For everyone else reading this post and if you're wondering if anyone has done differently, I used to have X as a gender marker and personally decided to revert back to F. I wrote in more detail why I chose to go this route. https://lionsandperiwinkles.substack.com/p/a-legal-gender-transition-that-went
Absolutely. And they've got you. That's so so important and lifesaving.
There are downsides with all options, unfortunately. Really, being trans or nonbinary itself is a target in current times. The balance is between additional threat level and having a non-affirming identifier.