Following the news is exhausting, and the exhaustion is part of the intended harm to our community.
We have started the Trans civil rights tracker below so that folks can quickly see at a glance the scope of legal barriers to their day to day lives in Ohio
(Last Updated 2/3/25 and will be continually updated):
(Some Details Links are still being added)
For further information on legislation currently moving through the Ohio Statehouse please check out The Trans Legislation Tracker, Honesty for Ohio Education, Advocates for Trans Equality and Equality Ohio:
https://translegislation.com/bills/2025/OH
https://www.honestyforohioeducation.org/legislation-tracker.html
IMPORTANT COMMUNITY UPDATE 2/3/25
YES, the Ohio Name Change Legal Clinic is still on the second Wednesday of every month for the foreseeable future! Any trans person, or parent/guardian of a trans person, born in, studying in, or living in Ohio may register.
YES, the TransOhio Transformation Emergency Fund is still open and will be receiving requests for the foreseeable future! Any trans person in Ohio negatively financially impacted by anti-trans laws and/or policies may apply. Resources also provided.
YES, mico-grants are still available and will be accepting applications for the foreseeable future! Any trans person currently living in Ohio may apply for funds to help with the filing and/or administrative fees associated with correcting legal identity documents and/or changing legal name.
BUT we have confirmed that, following an executive order from the President stating federal recognition of only two sexes—male and female—the State Department has suspended the processing of U.S. passport applications requesting an "X" gender marker and halted updates to existing gender markers.
The laws have not changed. The policies have not changed. Yet, in anticipatory or preemptive compliance, the State Department is complying with the order and has removed language relating to trans Americans from its websites. We are also aware of an internal memo dated Friday, January 31, that states that the Social Security Administration will no longer process requests from trans or nonbinary people seeking to update their sex designation.
TransOhio has understandably been inundated with questions from trans people, families of trans people, and providers seeking clarification on the executive orders. Unfortunately, we cannot give clear answers because what is happening right now is not only unprecedented, it is occurring outside of the bounds of the law and ordinary procedures. We can only remind you that TransOhio was created out of necessity, and our commitment remains to our communities.
The decision to update your or your child's legal federal identity documentation (U.S. passport and U.S. Social Security record) is deeply personal—especially now—and it's not a decision that you need to make right away. Many trans people have mismatched identification, either by choice or anti-trans restrictions. Please remember that the executive order has *nothing* to do with name changes, and legal name changes on U.S. passports, SSA cards/records, state birth certificates, and state IDs are still permitted and will be processed as usual.
As for correcting sex designation:
If you already have a passport with the correct marker – No immediate action is required, but stay informed for future changes.
If you’re applying for a new passport – Applications with an "X" marker are currently not being processed at all. You may need to apply with "M" or "F" instead.
If you’re trying to update your gender marker – These requests are temporarily on hold. Be cautious before submitting a request, as it may result in unknown delays. If you submit documentation with your application, those materials may be held until the passport is processed.
If you are renewing a passport with the correct marker – Applications from all trans people—whether correcting their sex designation for the first time or renewing a passport with the correct marker—may be held. Your passport may be delayed, or you may receive a passport with the incorrect sex designation. We have heard mixed reports from individuals who have had their applications immediately denied as well as those who have had their passport applications granted.
ALL U.S. passports that have not expired are still valid. TSA policy still states that passengers should be treated respectfully regardless of sex. You are not required to match your gender presentation to your ID. Though TSA agents and immigration officers should never require medical proof of sex, a letter stating that you are transgender and undergoing transition may help in case of questioning (these "carry letters" are not required, but It may provide you with extra peace of mind).
Please continue to follow us for future updates.