Discrimination: Last News

The devastating consequences of Texas’ new anti-trans ID policy

This August, Texas enacted a new policy that strips transgender Texans of their rights and threatens their lives: The Texas Department of Public Safety has stopped accepting court orders for the purpose of changing gender markers on driver’s licenses.

The only time a gender marker can now be updated is if it were a clerical mistake. This means trans people no longer will have the ability to change the sex listed on their driver’s licenses to match their gender identity.

For many, an ID is not just a piece of plastic; it is a gateway to everyday life. And for trans Texans, the new policy is not just dehumanizing, it is a direct threat to their safety.

This policy is not an isolated incident but part of a disturbing trend in conservative states where laws are increasingly being weaponized to limit the rights and humanness of transgender people. Across our nation, policymakers are making it harder for trans people to live their daily lives free from discrimination, to contribute to their communities and to carry identification that accurately reflects their gender identity.

From the airport to a job application to a night out — typically, your ID is the first thing you hand over when entering a space. It can shape the first impression of who you are and set the tone for how you are received and whether you are welcomed.

For trans people, an ID that does not match their gender identity is more than just an inconvenience; it is an invalidation of their humanity. Imagine living in a world where the very document meant to confirm your identity instead denies it.

A lack of ID blocks access to basic needs like travel, housing, healthcare, banking and employment. It restricts participation in civic life. Strict voter ID laws already disproportionately harm Black voters and other voters of color, and this policy will certainly contribute to widening this inequality.

This policy dismantles a basic form of dignity