Olympia Coppélius 🏳️‍⚧️Jul 12

Chat, I need your advice. My (US) passport expires early next year and it’s probably time to renew. But I’m not out publicly and wasn’t planning to come out or make any name changes until next summer (maybe?)

My internal understanding of my gender identity is still in flux but its been gender-fluid enby sliding towards full femme. Currently liking she/they pronouns.

So, do I attempt to update my passport to X as the marker now and my name sometime later? Or deal with the M marker and masc name post-transition?

(Please free to boost if you don’t have any advice but think your followers might)

#transgender #passport #advice #askfedi

Show threadQ-RaiJul 13
@debuggingolympia The best sources of information are ACLU and Lambda legal (each have a law suit for this). Jerner Law Group is also generally a good source of information about LGBTQIA+ legal issues. They're specialized for PA and NY but federal law is included.
Last I heard (late June), gender marker changes are currently not possible and the general advice is to sit tight and wait till things are more certain unless you're about to travel.
Show threadQ-RaiJul 13

@debuggingolympia recent blog post from Jerner Law Firm https://www.jernerlaw.com/injunctive-relief-in-orr-v-trump-expanded-to-all-eligible-transgender-passport-holders-and-applicants/

My 2 cents: right now is a supremely bad time to essentially register as trans. And an X gender marker could make it more difficult for you to leave the country should you be in a situation where that is necessary (many airlines don't offer that option. Yes, including US ones although the option has been available on passports and driver's licences for years).

Show threadQ-Rai
@debuggingolympia Personally, I decided to change to the other binary option out of a mixture of personal safety and convenience. (My passport is not US, but I live here and my greencard update is pending and I guess I'll see what happens when it's finally processed).
Jul 13 at 5:57amWeb
Show threadOlympia Coppélius 🏳️‍⚧️Jul 13

@qrai I really appreciate your advice. I somewhat anticipate having to travel to NL or DE for work before I’m ready to change my name publicly. Seems like I should just deal with the M marker for now.

( ; _ ; )

Show threadQ-RaiJul 13
@debuggingolympia Happy to help, I just wish I had better news. 😔 I feel your pain on this. I'm stuck with an F on all my US paperwork till the greencard is updated (ETA April 2028 (yes, really; and it might get even worse if they gut the state department... Though at that point, maybe another year of waiting might save me, depending on 2028 elections)).
Show threadCatoJul 13

@debuggingolympia @qrai

> I somewhat anticipate having to travel to NL or DE for work before I’m ready to change my name publicly.

Germany legally recognises non-binary people. Traveling to Germany with an X in your passport should not be a problem.

That to be said, I'm German and I chose male as my legal gender, because that makes some things easier.

Show threadOlympia Coppélius 🏳️‍⚧️Jul 13

@CatoTheYoungest Thanks, appreciate your feedback. I think my best course of action is to wait until I change my name, and stick with M for now.

I’m mostly thinking about it because it sounded like there was a window now with court-ordered allowing of the transition, but I’m not ready to switch to F on my documents if I’m still traveling masc-presenting for work.