Texas Creates List of Transgender Residents Using State Database

Key Takeaways

• The Texas Department of Public Safety has collected information on over 100 transgender drivers seeking to change the sex listed on their licenses.
• The data was collected after Texas stopped allowing drivers to update their gender on licenses unless it was to fix a clerical error.
• The state’s intentions with the collected information are unclear, and agency spokespersons have not responded to questions about the list.
• Transgender activists are concerned that the list will be used to target and restrict the rights of transgender Texans.
• Recent laws in Texas have restricted the rights of transgender individuals, including defining "male" and "female" based on reproductive systems and barring governments from allowing people to use restrooms that do not match their sex at birth.

Introduction to the Issue
The state of Texas has been collecting information on transgender drivers who have attempted to update the sex listed on their licenses. According to internal documents obtained by The Texas Newsroom, the Texas Department of Public Safety has compiled a list of 110 people who tried to make these changes between August 2024 and August 2025. This data collection has raised concerns among transgender activists, who worry that the state may be using this information to target and restrict the rights of transgender individuals.

The Data Collection Process
The data was collected after Texas changed its policy to no longer allow drivers to update their gender on licenses unless it was to correct a clerical error. Employees at driver’s license offices across the state were instructed to report the names and license numbers of individuals who attempted to make these changes to a special agency email account. The identifying information was redacted from the records released to The Texas Newsroom, but the fact that the state is collecting this information has sparked concern among advocates for transgender rights.

Lack of Transparency and Concerns
The Texas Department of Public Safety has not provided any clear explanation for why it is collecting this information or what it plans to do with it. Agency spokespersons have not responded to questions about the list, and the state’s attorney general has allowed other documents related to the policy shift to be kept secret. This lack of transparency has raised red flags among transgender activists, who worry that the state may be using this information to draft and pass additional legislation that restricts the rights of transgender Texans.

Recent Laws and Restrictions
In recent years, Texas has passed multiple laws that restrict the rights of transgender individuals. Two new measures that went into effect this year define "male" and "female" on state documents as being based on a person’s reproductive system and bar governments from allowing people to use restrooms that do not match their sex at birth. These laws have been widely criticized by advocates for transgender rights, who argue that they are discriminatory and harmful. The fact that the state is now collecting information on transgender drivers who attempt to update their licenses has added to concerns that the state is targeting and restricting the rights of transgender individuals.

Impact on Transgender Texans
There are approximately 161,000 transgender adults living in Texas, making up less than 1% of the population. For years, transgender people in Texas could update their state IDs to match their gender identity by obtaining a court order and submitting it to the state agencies that issue driver’s licenses and birth certificates. However, after the state restricted updates to driver’s licenses last fall, the state’s health agency followed suit, blocking changes to birth certificates except to correct hospital errors or omissions. This has made it increasingly difficult for transgender individuals to obtain accurate and affirming identification documents.

Concerns and Fears
Transgender activists are concerned that the list of drivers who have attempted to update their licenses will be used to pass more state laws that target and restrict the rights of transgender Texans. Landon Richie, the policy coordinator with the Transgender Education Network of Texas, has expressed concerns that the state’s collection of this information will be used to "chip away at the civil rights and freedoms of transgender Texans." Ry Vazquez, a transgender activist, was recently asked to show her ID before using a restroom in the state Capitol and was cited with criminal trespassing and banned from the building for a year. These incidents have added to fears that the state is targeting and restricting the rights of transgender individuals.

Conclusion and Next Steps
The collection of information on transgender drivers who attempt to update their licenses has raised serious concerns among advocates for transgender rights. The lack of transparency and explanation from the Texas Department of Public Safety has added to these concerns, and the recent laws and restrictions passed in Texas have created a hostile environment for transgender individuals. As the state continues to collect this information, it is essential that advocates for transgender rights remain vigilant and continue to push for greater transparency and accountability from state officials. The Texas Newsroom has requested an updated version of the list, and it is essential that the state provides clear explanations for its collection and use of this information.