"The state's collection of trans people's data started back in August 2024, when Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) changed the rules for updating gender markers on Texan driver's licenses. While it had been possible (if complicated) to update those markers before August of that year, Paxton changed it so that markers could only be corrected because of clerical errors - he refused to update gender markers for any other reason, even if a judge provided a court order."
"Since August 2024, anyone who has tried to change the gender marker on their license in Texas (for a reason other than a clerical error) has been denied. However, their information has been forwarded to an internal email address. While pro-trans activists spammed the email address with nonsense for some time, it seems that the account remained active and screened. According to The Texas Newsroom, the internal email address had collected 42 names by March 2025; by August 2025, that number had risen to 110."
Texas changed rules in August 2024 so gender markers on driver's licenses could only be corrected for clerical errors, and officials declined to honor court orders to change markers for other reasons. Denied applicants' information has been forwarded to an internal state email account that collected 42 names by March 2025 and 110 names by August 2025. Landon Richie described the state's collection as raising red flags about privacy and potential misuse in legislative drafting. Pro-trans activists initially spammed the address, but the account remained active and reportedly screened incoming submissions. Paxton and DPS refused to explain the list's purpose.
Read at LGBTQ Nation
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