Pro Tips for Trans* Survival in Trying Times
The Evergreen Echo
In recent weeks the LGBTQ+ community has faced major setbacks. I won’t sugarcoat it, it’s scary out here. I have had multiple doctors, colleagues, and friends ask me if they should conceal the fact that I am Trans, if it would be safer for me. At the airport (where I already feel uncomfortable), I am now making my way through TSA in constant fight-or-flight. I am watching my Trans siblings struggling against their state legislation, their families, and talking about how they will escape their town/state/country.
Here, in the Puget Sound bubble, it is easy to lose focus of what we are fighting against and fighting for; sometimes the bad stuff sort of feels like it is happening out there, and that in our blue bubble, we are untouchable. But this isn’t true. Backslides set a precedent for more backslides. It is important to stay vigilant, to offer what you can to people who are not privileged to live in blue areas, and to know how to protect yourself.
Below, I listed three sections: What is Happening, Protecting Yourself, and Worst-Case Scenarios. I wanted to break these up for readers to choose what kind of information they want or are ready to receive. If you want to know what is going on in the community, but are not ready to move into action, you can just read the first section. If you want to skip worst-case scenarios, feel welcome. As always, please care for yourselves as much as possible during these scary times.
What is Happening?
The Evergreen Echo
We are facing some frightening moves in legislation, both on statewide and nationwide levels. There is a lot of movement happening in advance of midterm elections, and how those midterm elections go could affect a lot of these—either positively or negatively, depending on outcome. Here are a few of the bigger updates:
On February 26, Kansas effectively invalidated every state-issued ID and Drivers License that has a gender marker inconsistent with the owner’s sex at birth. This law went into effect quickly, giving citizens no time to update their information before it was passed. ACLU has a more in-depth look and a Q&A about the new laws and who they affect. The main takeaways are that any Trans* or gender non-conforming person in Kansas who has changed their gender marker is now holding an invalid ID. This can affect one’s ability to drive, get a job, and vote, though there do appear to be some work-arounds according to the ACLU. Gender markers must revert to match the sex assigned at birth in order to continue using a driver’s license in Kansas.
On March 10, the Trump Administration updated the rules for vetting “fraud” in the Diversity Immigrant Visa Program. The rule forces transgender visa applicants to share their sex assigned at birth when applying; if the gender marker on their application items do not match their sex assigned at birth, their visa could be revoked and they could be deported. With the President’s broad deployment of ICE officials, this means that transgender individuals could be targeted by ICE agents, especially those who are BIPOC.
Two more devastating items: On March 27, Idaho passed the most extreme bathroom ban to date. And on March 31, ironically coinciding with Trans Day of Visibility, the Supreme Court ruled against a ban on conversion therapy for LGBTQ+ minors.
Protecting Yourself
The biggest step that LGBTQ+ citizens can do right now to protect themselves is to protect their sensitive documents as much as possible. This means having control over your documents first and foremost. Make sure you physically have all of your self-identifying and legal documents in your possession and kept somewhere safe, such as in a locked filing cabinet or somewhere hidden.
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Some examples of documents to be kept somewhere safe when not in everyday use:
Social Security Card
marriage license/certificate
divorce decree
deeds and titles to assets
living will
healthcare proxy
Last Will & Testament
legal documents re: a current court case or legal conflict
current attorney and doctors’ contact info
passport
work, student, or other visas
green cards/proof of citizenship status
emergency contacts
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SPL offers $1.50 of printing per day with your library card.
The cloud is not to be trusted with your sensitive documents.
If you have any mismatched documentation—for example, your documents have different names or different gender markers—you must make yourself knowledgeable of the risks of having this mismatched documentation. Some states remain safer than others when it comes to changing markers. In Washington State, I was easily able to change my name on my Washington State ID after receiving court approval for my name change and while at the DOL, I was asked if I would like to change my gender marker then. Other states have more laborious approval systems in place, especially for drivers’ licenses and gender marker changes. This is where it becomes important to know your risks, as gender marker changes could potentially flag your documentation and you. I recommend checking out your state’s government site; for Washington, it’s WA.gov.
On a national level, name changes remain somewhat common and with court-ordered approval, do not seem to be a huge risk on their own. Unfortunately, it is currently not advisable to seek out gender marker changes on federal documents such as passports or visas. Again, assess the risk for yourself, but for many, and especially those who live in red states, it may not be safe. Depending on where you were born, your birth certificate may or may not be easy to change; many states do not yet have proper or easily accessible channels for changing a gender marker—or name—on a birth certificate.
Another step you can take in protecting yourself is to find community support. Finding others in your area who are in your community or allies to it can be extremely helpful. Not only can these people be or help you find resources, they can be shoulders to lean on during emotionally taxing times too. I cannot emphasize how needed community support is right now, even if that community is just you and one other person, and even if that person cannot always be with you physically.
Worst-Case Scenario
While I do not find it helpful to ceaselessly fear the worst, I do live by the California earthquake rules I learned as a kid. It is not good to worry about the Big One, but it is good to be prepared for it. Even if the worst-case scenario never comes to pass, having a backup plan in place can never hurt.
When we talk about the worst-case scenario, what we mean is that there may come a time when Trans* and LGBTQ+ Americans are no longer safe in the places we live. To prepare, I highly recommend coming up with an escape plan. This means finding a place you can stay in a sanctuary state or even another country, having your documents together and in an accessible location, and/or preparing a go-bag with essential items.
Of course, there is privilege in being able to escape quickly or at all, and I highly recommend that if you are able, you offer resources or seek out resources for those in your network who are not as privileged. Rainbow Railroad and Trans Rescue can be great places to begin if you aren’t sure where best to donate or help.
The Evergreen Echo
Times are scary and changing quickly. While I felt invigorated by the No Kings Protests on March 28 as well as Trans Day of Visibility on March 30, there is no masking the fact that things can/will/could move south very quickly. I hope that these suggestions can be helpful to you and your networks.
Stay safe.
