In brief
Hunter Schafer, a transgender actress from HBO's Euphoria, expressed shock over her new U.S. passport mistakenly designating her as male despite identifying as female during the application process. This incident brings attention to the U.S. government's current policies regarding gender markers, which stem from a controversial executive order signed by Donald Trump.
Hunter Schafer, known for her role in the HBO series Euphoria, has voiced her disappointment after discovering that her newly issued U.S. passport inaccurately identifies her gender as male. Despite clearly indicating her female identity when completing the application, the passport arrived with an "M" designation, leading Schafer to express her surprise in a TikTok video. The 26-year-old actress, who has been an outspoken advocate for transgender rights, shared that her previous passport correctly listed her as female. She criticized the existing policies for transgender individuals in the U.S., particularly attributing this incident to the restrictive policies enacted during Donald Trump's presidency. Upon taking office, Trump signed an executive order that affirmed the binary classification of sex, effectively denying recognition of gender identities beyond male and female. The current regulations permit passport applications to reflect only the sex recorded at birth, limiting options for non-binary, intersex, and gender non-conforming individuals. Notably, the Biden administration later permitted the designation of "X" on passports, a step intended to promote inclusivity.Schafer had applied for a replacement passport after losing her earlier document while abroad. However, she expressed concern about potential complications when traveling internationally with a passport that does not align with her gender identity. "I feel like it’s important to share that it’s not just talk—this is real and it’s happening," she remarked, emphasizing that these policies impact everyone, regardless of their social status or appearance.While she has successfully updated her driver’s license to reflect her gender identity, Schaefer's birth certificate remains unchanged. She anticipates facing challenges when interacting with border patrol agents and fears having to disclose her identity often, a reality that many trans individuals endure in their daily lives.As the third season of Euphoria progresses, Schafer continues to portray Jules Vaughn—a trans teen navigating complex relationships, shedding light on the real-life challenges faced by transgender youth today.
