Tennessee’s LGBTQ+ advocates are stepping up efforts to assist transgender residents in obtaining passports that accurately reflect their gender identity, especially as opportunities may be limited soon.

Recently, the Trump administration urged the Supreme Court to reinstate a ban on issuing U.S. passports that accommodate the gender identities of transgender and non-binary individuals.

A federal appeals court had previously maintained a temporary injunction against this ban, which traces back to an executive order issued on Trump’s inauguration day. This order stated that the U.S. recognizes only two genders—male and female—and instructed the State Department to issue passports that align with the designated gender.

This policy effectively halted transgender individuals from securing passports that matched their authentic gender identity.

In Tennessee, if authorities denied trans individuals the right to amend their driver’s license gender markers in 2023, this executive order limited the available government-issued IDs that accurately reflect the identities of transgender and non-binary residents.

Molly Quinn, executive director of Out Memphis, noted that the ensuing legal uncertainties surrounding the ban have led to confusion, causing some to hesitate in applying for passports.

Currently, transgender and non-binary individuals can apply for new or renewed passports that mirror their gender identity.

The Tennessee ACLU and Out Memphis are collaborating to provide virtual clinics aimed at guiding residents through the passport application process.

“We’ll keep these going until our legal partners advise otherwise,” she remarked.