Actress Hunter Schafer Denounces Trump Administration’s Policy Reversal on Gender Identity
Transgender actress and model Hunter Schafer has publicly denounced the Trump administration’s policy reversal on gender identity, which has resulted in the incorrect identification of her gender on her newly issued passport.
In a lengthy and emotional TikTok video, Schafer shared her experience with the situation, expressing her shock and frustration at the government’s actions.
Passport Discrepancy
"My initial reaction to this, because our president is a lot of talk, was like ‘I’ll believe it when I see it … and today I saw it on my new passport,’" Schafer said, holding up the identification booklet to show the sex line with an "M" for male, her sex assigned at birth.
Schafer explained that her passport had previously been changed to female, reflecting her gender identity, but after having it stolen while filming in Spain last year, she filed for a replacement.
Root Cause: Birth Certificate and Executive Order
Schafer hypothesized in the video that the discrepancy might have been caused by the fact that her birth certificate had never been changed, and the government may have used that to identify her as transgender.
She also pointed to one of President Trump’s executive orders, which mandates federal government recognition of only two sexes, male and female, and prohibits changes to these designations.
Impact on Transgender Community
Schafer expressed concern about the implications of this policy reversal for the transgender community. She noted that the government is freezing passport applications requesting gender marker changes and new applications that deviate from the applicant’s sex assigned at birth.
"This is not just talk. Throughout the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump frequently attacked transgender Americans, claiming there should only be two genders and arguing trans women in particular are a threat to cisgender women in sports," Schafer said.
Historical Context
Schafer drew parallels between the current situation faced by transgender Americans and historical precedents. "Things just sort of start happening as we’ve seen in historical rises in fascism," she said. "I just feel like it’s important to share that it’s not just talk."
Personal Impact
Schafer acknowledged that the incorrect gender marker on her passport may not have a major impact on her life, but she recognized the potential difficulties and discomfort it could cause.
"I was shocked. I guess I’m just sort of scared of the way this stuff gets slowly implemented because things just sort of start happening as we’ve seen in historical rises in fascism," she said. "I just feel like it’s important to share that it’s not just talk."
Legal Challenges
Schafer is among the plaintiffs in a 2016 lawsuit challenging a North Carolina law that sought to restrict transgender people’s access to bathrooms corresponding with their gender identity.
Activism and Resilience
Despite the challenges, Schafer remained defiant in her TikTok video. "No one – no matter their circumstance, no matter how wealthy or white or pretty or whatever – is excluded," she said. "Trans people are beautiful we are never going to stop existing I am never going to stop being trans, a letter on a passport can’t change that."
Schafer’s experience and activism highlight the ongoing struggle faced by transgender people to have their identities recognized and respected. Her voice adds to the growing chorus of opposition to the Trump administration’s discriminatory policies.
