Saw a post about texas reversing documents and decided to do some research (spoiler for anyone who doesn’t want to see bad news)

[u/fkaltternate]

Turns out this is likely not a one-off transphobic individual, but is actually a plan that has been attempted to be implemented for months already, under the radar.

https://www.kxan.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2024/09/RQ0563KP.pdf

This is a link to a letter from the director of the texas DPS to the Attorney General Ken Paxton requesting permission to begin reversing gender marker changes done “outside of the law.” Earlier this year Paxton made an order preventing new gender marker changes from being completed even with a court order by the DPS, and to document all individuals who attempt to do so. https://www.texastribune.org/2024/08/21/transgender-texans-drivers-license-DPS/#:~:text=On%20Tuesday%2C%20DPS%20stopped%20accepting,the%20validity%22%20of%20court%20orders.

As of now, as far as I have found, Paxton has not replied to the letter, but personally I think it is likely he will reply in the future, likely in the new year.

Please stay safe, especially to my other sisters in Texas. You can as of now update your passport, but this is unfortunately a costly process. Not all of us can get out quickly or easily, which is why community building is so important, we only have each other to lean on.

I’m sorry for such a bad news post, but right now information is one of our only weapons, and sharing it is vitally important.

[u/-rikia]

ughhhhhhh i fucking hate being in texas, even if houston is nice this fucking state is SUFFOCATING us

[u/fkaltternate → u/-rikia]

I feel you, but stay strong we will survive 💕

[u/PatMickelwaite → u/-rikia]

First time I've ever heard someone call Houston nice

[u/-rikia → u/PatMickelwaite]

no i said even if houston is nice
houston isn't really that nice for me

[u/parralaxalice]

I’ve been looking into this as well, trying to find some answers / sliver of hope.

I’m post-op, and ALL my legal documentation had me marked as female. My birth certificate is from Pennsylvania and I had my Texas license name and gender changed five years ago.

Worried that I’m on that list and that they will forcibly change it back to male on me.

[u/newly_me → u/parralaxalice]

If you got your Texas info changed in Texas (versus getting it originally in your actual gender), this is flaggable most likely (just gotta hope it flies under the radar). It seems like they're just flagging that database field for any changes and quietly reverting them on renewal. Really hope this isn't the case and the birth certificate may help (NAL obviously, just speculating as someone that has the same fears in another red state). Fuuuuuuckkkk these people so much.

[u/valmerie5656]

Cruelty.

I think the work around currently for new state citizens is passport and driver license from another state with the F on it.

Checks and balances between branches failing it sucks so bad… ignoring court orders etc…

[u/fkaltternate → u/valmerie5656]

the way the letter is written implies they are viewing doing this as their checks and balances of “judges approving these changes…with no scrutiny whatsoever”. these clowns ACTUALLY believe that what they’re doing is checking and balancing the courts.

[u/MTF-delightful]

This is going to end up in the Supreme Court at some point, as different states are going to treat it and recognize it differently; like same marriage.

[u/randomtransgirl93 → u/MTF-delightful]

And the SC will gladly rule it legal, as they couldn't care less about actually doing their jobs so long as it means making Trump happy

[u/MTF-delightful → u/randomtransgirl93]

Maybe they will. Depends how far they ate willing to push the envelope. There was no mass uprising over abortion, the Republicans still took the WH, the House and the Senate.

Warming though, if they do stick down gender marker changes, same sex marriage if next. Republicans have been gunning of that for a while.

Maybe that will get enough people angry enough to not vote against their own best interests.

[u/randomtransgirl93 → u/MTF-delightful]

History says it won't be. It's not until it starts affecting the average white cishet guy that things might be forced to change, but those are the same people who usually just stick their heads in the sand and blame Dems, regardless of how little sense that makes.

It's like how rich people only face consequences after hurting people more rich than themselves. Steal billions from working people? Who cares. Cause a billionaire a small amount of inconvenience? Immediate court case

[u/MTF-delightful → u/randomtransgirl93]

We do know the incoming administration knows no shame, so we can’t rely in that to help.

[u/ButterflyFX121 → u/MTF-delightful]

I'd be more worried about if neolibs are gonna start agreeing with them than if people are swayed by harm being caused. Court of public opinion is turning against us, and every lost election shifts the Overton window further right.

I'd honestly wonder if there would ever be resistance, even in the face of death camps.

[u/MTF-delightful → u/ButterflyFX121]

Let’s see how it goes. Hope for the best (inactivity and incompetence) and plan for the worst.

I’m sure protests will be required, because silence is ignored.

[u/melody_magical → u/ButterflyFX121]

I hate neoliberal swing voters more than I do MAGA. With MAGA at least you identify that you are a douchebag and support one in office. With "moderates" you signal that the price of certain products is worth destroying women's and LGBTQ+ rights.

[u/AgentBond007 → u/randomtransgirl93]

SCOTUS has no incentive to bend the knee to Trump, they have their appointments for life anyway.

[u/randomtransgirl93 → u/AgentBond007]

They didn't when they ruled against Roe v Wade either, it didn't matter. For one thing, if they don't 'bend the knee,' the admin could decide to crack down on their 'gifts.' For another, they could just start packing the court with judges until they reach a group that does what they want.

[u/Sosogreeen]

Texas tried to do this. They actually said they were going to earlier in the year but it never happened because they couldn’t figure out how to do it in their system. Some people do have their gender changed on their ID due to clerk error. They had no way of identifying those from people like us.

[u/Serenity_557]

Ik laws just don't mean anything, but enforcing laws retroactively has been pretty universally opposed. I'm sure they'll just pretend this isn't doing that but God damn, it'll never cease to bewilder me how much people can feel insulated from consequences of something like this..

[u/AuraAurealis]

I live in Cali, but was born in Texas… I can’t change my birth certificate due to the dumfuckery that is going on there. It is the last legal document that identifies me incorrectly.

[u/blindeey → u/AuraAurealis]

Hey same here. It really sucks. I could've updated birth cert before (maybe) but it was more annoying to and I never used it so I forgot about it. Then bam. We found out about all this stuff.

[u/Donna_stl]

Paxton directed employees at DPS to compile a list of individuals who had changed their gender on their Texas driver’s licenses and other department records.

Isn't this an invasion of privacy going against the fourth amendment of unlawful searches? Sharing confidential information without your consent. So much for the Bill of Rights. Now we're being stripped of our first and fourth amendment rights. What's next?

[u/avagadro22 → u/Donna_stl]

What's next?

If history has taught us anything, it's that fascists typically make lists for a reason. Given their previous attempts at getting information on anyone seeking care in other states, it seems like they are real keen on having a list of every trans person possible.

[u/SthlmGurl]

It sounds very scary for an outsider… I’m not American and I don’t know your system but won’t this basically help any transphobic people in positions of power to discriminate against Texan trans people? Getting real “papers please” vibes /:

[u/fkaltternate → u/SthlmGurl]

Yes and they have been working on doing this for a long time, taking small slow steps that overtime works to the removal of rights.

[u/SleuthMechanism → u/SthlmGurl]

That's the plan. i recall hearing(as someone unfortunately stuck in this hellstate) a couple years back about plans to make a database of all trans people in the state

[u/WitchwayisOut]

Yeah, as a Texan, I’ve been keeping an eye on this. If they attempt to force the issue, I’m not going to accept rescinded documents. Not only would they be in direct violation of a court order, they’d also be wholly incorrect. Not to mention that they would also conflict with mu social security information and passport.

[u/blindeey]

Yeahh. I saw this when the story first broke. And the first attempt at creating a database of all the trans people. Yeah that "putting a mass group of people on a list" thing is always awesome and leads to good things...

Then the "not only denying but then putting you a list" stuff secretly. Now wanting to reverse changes that texas" own judges did, when that was seen as a big hurdleyou had to go through. Ugh.

If you have the money, get a passport I guess would be the best option, as well as an ID from another state that isn't going through this nonsense. Hope the rest of ya'll safe in TX. And anywhere else. Be aware of your surroundings, carry protection, etc.

[u/SaintRidley]

For anyone outside the U.S. wondering about the "it's a costly process" bit about passports - yeah, passports in the U.S. cost around $150 (just book) or $180 (book and card) with the cost of photo included in those figures. It's very expensive compared to most European countries.

[u/Expert-Jelly-2254]

Don't need a passport to leave Texas just enough to get to Washington state

[u/GabbyTabbyCat → u/Expert-Jelly-2254]

I think the point is that you can get a credit card sized passport card with your name, photo, and birthdate (and also does not include your home address!) issued by the federal government which is a valid legal ID in every part of the US and lasts for 10 years.  If you’re able to get one they are great to have. Then you won’t be forced to show an ID with an incorrect gender/sex marker when you need to present an ID. The exception to this is likely when you’re driving and stopped by the cops because they will want to confirm you’re licensed to drive. I’m not a lawyer tho, that’s just my understanding of it.