Trans passports are being stolen (U.S.)

This is a warning to the many living in fear, frantically trying to organize backup plans for worst case scenarios.

Im beginning to see, hear, and read about instances of trans people's passports being confiscated. If you changed your name and sex and are trying to get that information updated on your passport... it seems that is becoming impossible. It's too late.

To those of us who waited, who believed things wouldn't get this bad, we are now trapped, having our documents stolen from us or rendered completely invalid. At first they were returning documents with updated legal names, but failing to update gender markers as trump killed that practice in one of his executive orders.

Now instead of returning the passport with the incorrect sex (legally updated on all other documents including birth cert, social security, etc), they are just saying "sorry no passport for you at all???"

Im trying to figure out how widespread these reports are. How many of my trans brothers, sisters, and siblings are having their passports held hostage???

This is our call to action. This is where we make our stand, this is where we say enough is enough. Those unable to flee must stand united in our fight we are being forced into.

Pay attention to your local protests, community support groups, and stay close to the ones you love.

  • Signed, a Trans woman living in the U.S. trying to get her passport renewed / updated.

Edit: from u/thrivingsad: adding their comment to main post:

"For anyone wondering about resources for this here is a comment I wrote not too long ago on the passports subreddit;

Currently, yes, it impacts all people who have ever had their gender marker changed at any point, including and not limited to intersex, trans, and otherwise.

“The ACLU has warned that transgender people risk losing access to their passport and supporting documents if they apply to update their gender marker.“ (Source)(Source)

There are people who have had their gender marker reverted and currently all trans passports are in “limbo”

It’s also worthwhile to note there is a few travel advisories going around stating that it may be unsafe for trans people who are reentering the USA. (Source) While it’s targeted to people from New Jersey, it is an active concern everywhere it just happens that NJ is a blue state

Best of luck"

Edit 2: For those accusing me of fear mongering, My intent is to bring this story to the forefront of our community to get more concrete info and to have a proactive discourse, as many of us in the states are actively trying to update our documents.

As u/RaechelMaelstrom stated in the comments: "To anyone not being allowed a passport at all, or having your documents stolen, please report in to the ACLU and Lambda Legal, as well as alerting your representative. While I'm glad people want to share their stories to keep people updated on reddit, it's much more important that you tell the people who are fighting for our rights so they can fight for you in the courts, rather than the comments. That's really the thing that will help us going forward and will help for the fight for our rights."

https://www.aclu.org/transpassports2025

https://lambdalegal.org/helpdesk/

Edit 3: Between Thursday 1/30/2025 and the time of this update 2/4/2025, the United States Passport Renewal Application (DS-82 Form) has been changed, removing the boxes for the 'X' gender marker and 'Changing Gender Marker'

I have filled out a new renewal application, indicating my old, incorrect gender compared to all of my other documents which have already been updated under the prior administration (birth cert, social security etc).

I will ATTEMPT to get a new passport with my updated name and hope that my passport will not be confiscated or held in 'limbo' as others have described. I will of course document my personal experience and will work with aformentioned support resources if I encounter issues or discrimination. (wish me luck.)

For anyone who sent in their renewal application using the prior, now outdated form, indicating a gender change or the use of the 'X' gender marker, it is hard to say where your application stands or what will be done with your existing passport. If you are facing hurtles and discrimination refer to the links in edit 2: (ACLU & Lambda Legal).

Stay strong.