Trans rights are under attack in 2025
Trans rights have been under attack at the federal level since day one of this new presidential administration.
- Executive orders removing the ability to receive a passport with X gender
- Threats to not issue passports except with sex assigned at birth
- Removal of transgender identities from all federal government websites
- Supreme court protection of states making trans care for teens illegal, and legalizing discrimination against trans teens in sports
At this time, it is strongly recommended for trans and non-binary people to not renew or apply for new passports, if at all possible. This is because you run the risk of receiving a passport with your sex assigned at birth, despite what you apply for. There have also been reports of people with existing X gender markers on their passports receiving destroyed passports back in the mail.
If you have to travel, try to delay renewing your passport until more legal challenges to these actions have time to be processed.
It is not recommended to try to apply for an X gender marker on a passport at this time.
Merced County has many name and gender change resources
Luckily, at the state and county level, we are safe, so far, in Merced County. That’s because it is still relatively easy in Merced County, California to change your name and gender legally. And you can then update your driver’s license accordingly.
Therefore it is recommended for transgender people to continue to apply for a court order to change their name and gender at this time. You may want to consider changing it urgently, before more restrictions come into place.
Despite the federal government forbidding Social Security to change your gender in their records at this time, Merced County residents can still apply for a name and gender change court order, and be eligible to apply for a new ID at the DMV. See transequality.org for more info. You still have to update Social Security if you change your name, but the DMV does not pull gender information from there, so your gender can still be correct on your ID or license.
Merced County Resources
LGBTQ Merced
People can change their name and gender relatively easily in California. You can do it yourself. Download this packet we created, fill out all the forms, make copies, and go to the new Merced County Courthouse building on N Street, and find the Self Help Center to double check you have everything you need to file for a court order. Follow the next steps as the Self Help Center instructs you. If you want help with this process, or accompaniment to the courthouse, please contact us at LGBTQ Merced!
CalPride
You can walk into CalPride during business hours for help changing name and gender.
Address: 710 W 18th St Suite 18, Merced, CA 95340
Phone: (209) 749-2051
Hours: Monday through Friday, 10AM – 6PM
Lambda Alliance
UC Students can reach out to the Lambda Alliance for help changing name and gender.
HEARTS Club
Merced College students can get help from the HEARTS Club for help changing name and gender.
Please share this important information in your community.
