"I'm transgender and a US citizen. Do I need to worry about my passport?"
* If you already have a passport, and it doesn't need renewal soon: Do nothing. Currently you are fine.
* If you don't have a passport, and have no immediate plans to leave the US: Consider doing nothing.
* If you've NEVER applied for a passport:
* If you have a passport and need to renew:
* If you mailed in a renewal/application in the last month and haven't heard back yet:
Now things get complicated/upsetting.
(1/4)
If the State dept has any record of you ever having changed gender markers— *even if you were previously issued a correct-gender passport*— all reports say Rubio's State dept simply takes your application, your old passport, *and supporting documents like birth certificates*, and *won't give them back*. These have been "on hold" for weeks; there's no sign what they intend to do or when. The ACLU (who *is* suing) recommends trans ppl NOT renew passports right now.
https://bsky.app/profile/aclu.org/post/3lgixjvnwm223
(2/4)
There are some *limited* options you still have. If you're in one of:
Michigan
Minnesota
New York
Vermont
Washington
You can get a "Enhanced Drivers License"¹ (or in NY at least, a "Enhanced Non-Driver ID"). This is proof of US citizenship within the US. If you have an EDL *or* a tribal ID, this is sufficient to cross into Canada², or to re-enter the US from Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean. These only work by *land or sea* (not air).
(3/4)
¹ https://www.dhs.gov/enhanced-drivers-licenses-what-are-they
² https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/travel-voyage/td-dv-eng.html#:~:text=Electronic%20Travel%20Authorization.-,us%20citizens,-If%20you%20are
mcc
Gaelan Steele