Florida has implemented a new policy preventing transgender individuals from changing the gender marker on their driving licenses to align with their gender identity, as reported by NBC News. The memo outlining this change, written by Robert Kynoch, Deputy Executive Director of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), argues that allowing such changes undermines the identification document’s purpose. The memo suggests that altering the license to reflect internal gender identity, which is deemed neither immutable nor objectively verifiable, could hinder law enforcement efforts.
The guidance raises questions about its practical application, especially considering that Florida still permits transgender individuals to change the gender marker on their birth certificates with a doctor’s letter confirming gender-affirming treatment. Kynoch’s memo warns that misrepresenting gender on a driver’s license may be considered fraud and could result in criminal penalties, including license cancellation.
Another cruel example of our state government working very hard & efficiently to target the freedoms & livelihoods of LGBTQ+ people.
— Ida V. Eskamani (@ida_v_e) January 30, 2024
Imagine if Ron DeSantis appointees put that same energy towards making sure we all had a home to live in & corporations pay the taxes they owe. https://t.co/X9daAx0E5a
Critics argue that state agencies, including the FLHSMV, are being used against the transgender community. Advocates point out that the policy reversal disrupts the lives of tens of thousands of individuals who had legally updated their gender markers, following established rules. The FLHSMV memo aligns with a bill in the Florida legislature, not yet enacted, requiring biological sex to appear on driving licenses.
Equality Florida’s executive director, Nadine Smith, criticizes the abrupt policy change, stating that it has caused chaos in the lives of those who trusted the process to accurately reflect their gender identity. The American Civil Liberties Union is monitoring multiple anti-LGBTQ+ bills in Florida, including one aiming to restrict government agencies from using correct pronouns for transgender individuals. The broader context reveals a surge in anti-LGBTQ+ bills across the United States in early 2024, with a significant focus on transgender issues.
