Texas Standard Texas collects data on trans residents through state IDs
Dec 16, 2025
Lauren McGahee, an investigative reporter, and Alexandra Hart, a Texas Newsroom reporter, dive into Texas's controversial policy preventing transgender individuals from updating their gender markers on state IDs. They discuss the state's tracking of those attempting changes and the concerns surrounding privacy and legal targeting. The dangers posed by the new bathroom law and the implications of a potential registry for trans residents are also highlighted, raising critical questions about data collection and personal safety in Texas.
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State Blocks Gender Marker Changes
- Texas law and agency changes since April 2024 bar updating gender on driver licenses and birth certificates for many Texans.
- Lauren McGahee found the state is collecting names of people who still seek changes but could not learn the list's purpose.
Court Orders Collide With Agency Policy
- People still legally pursue court orders to change gender markers but are often denied at state agencies.
- Lauren McGahee's records requests did not reveal why the state is compiling a list of these applicants.
Advocates Fear Data Could Enable Targeting
- Advocacy groups fear the list could be used to craft further anti-trans laws or to target individuals.
- They worry many people on the list may not even know their data is being retained.
