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In a powerful and personal TikTok video, Hunter Schafer, the star of HBO's Euphoria, shared a harsh reality check that many in the trans community face today. Schafer recently received her new passport, only to find that it misgendered her, listing her as male despite her previous passport correctly identifying her as female. This experience highlights the ongoing struggle for trans rights, particularly under the Trump administration.
Schafer's situation is a direct result of an executive order signed by Trump on the first day of his presidency, which declared that only two genders—male and female, assigned at birth—are recognized by the state. This order has led the Bureau of Consular Affairs to freeze passport applications requesting gender marker changes or renewals with a gender marker differing from the applicant's birth-assigned gender.
Initially, Schafer admitted she didn't take the executive order seriously, thinking it wouldn't actually happen. However, upon receiving her new passport with an "M" marker, she realized the harsh reality of the situation. Despite having other official documents, such as her driver's license, correctly identifying her as female since her teens, Schafer's passport now reflects her birth-assigned gender.
Schafer acknowledged her privilege as a celebrity trans woman who is white and thin, yet still faced this issue. She noted that the agencies handling passports now seem to cross-reference birth certificates, which she never changed. While the misgendering on her passport doesn't change her identity, it does make life more challenging, especially when interacting with border patrol agents.
The Trump administration has also recently signed another executive order banning trans women and girls from participating in women's sports and has restricted gender-affirming care for trans youth, though the latter has been temporarily blocked by a judge.
Schafer's message was met with support from peers and figures across the entertainment and fashion industries. Designer Ludovic de Saint Sernin and singer Ariana Grande showed solidarity by sharing parts of her statement. At the 2025 Independent Spirit Awards, where Schafer was a nominee and presenter, Natasha Rothwell used her acceptance speech to champion trans rights, emphasizing that the trans community is not alone.
In her defiant conclusion, Schafer asserted, "Trans people are beautiful. We are never going to stop existing. I’m never going to stop being trans. A letter and a passport can’t change that."
Source:
Anna Cafolla, Vogue https://www.vogue.com/article/hunter-schafer-misgendered-male-passport-trump-anti-trans-order
Image Credit: Getty Images