The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has compiled a list of transgender residents who have sought to change the sex on their driver’s licenses. This compilation includes 110 individuals over the past year, from August 2024 to August 2025. This internal data was acquired through records requests and reveals the ongoing challenges faced by transgender residents in the state.
Details of the Transgender Residents List
The list was created following Texas’s decision to restrict updates to driver’s licenses. Changes to sex designation are now only permitted when correcting clerical errors. Employees across the state reported the names and license numbers of individuals seeking these changes to a designated email account.
- List established: 110 individuals
- Time frame: August 2024 to August 2025
- Locations: Reports submitted from cities including El Paso, Paris, and Plano
Concerns Over Privacy and Legislative Impact
There is significant concern regarding the potential use of this information. Activists fear that it may influence future legislation targeting transgender rights in Texas. Landon Richie, policy coordinator for the Transgender Education Network of Texas, expressed worry about how the collected data could be used against individuals.
Transgender Texans have faced increasing restrictions in recent years. Legislation defining gender based on reproductive systems has been enacted, along with the controversial “bathroom bill.” This law limits restroom access in public spaces to individuals based on their sex at birth.
Current Legislative Climate
Approximately 161,000 transgender adults reside in Texas, representing less than 1% of the state’s population. The restrictive laws have raised concerns about the ongoing discrimination faced by these individuals. As a result, many are apprehensive about interactions with state entities and public services.
Despite the restrictions, individuals previously could change their IDs by obtaining a court order. However, this avenue has become more complicated, with recent policy changes limiting access to essential documentation.
Conclusion
The list of transgender residents maintained by the Texas DPS raises questions about privacy and the future of transgender rights in the state. As laws become more restrictive, activists are calling for transparency regarding the state’s actions and intentions with this sensitive information.
