As of August 20, people living in the Lone Star State are no longer able to change their listed sex to the opposite if they say they "identify" as such. A Department of Public Safety policy change directed by Gov. Greg Abbott only allows the switch to correct clerical errors and will not accommodate applicants simply claiming a transgender identity.
Jonathan Covey is policy director for Texas Values. His organization approves of the state's move.
"It's biologically impossible to change your sex or your gender," he points out. "It's not 'assigned at birth' by a parent or a medical professional. It's not a mental or a psychological construct. It's actually assigned genetically. This is something that's good in recognizing biological reality."
Covey argues that if ignoring biological reality isn't a harmful enough reason for society, there is another legitimate point.
"When you're calling a woman a man or a man a woman on an official state-issued I.D., it can create some very confusing and even dangerous situations for law enforcement, hospitals, healthcare workers, and other folks as well," he describes.
Texas Values specifically identifies problems that have arisen – not just in Texas but around the country – when individuals are able to change one's sex on government documents to align with gender identity:
- Men competing in women's sports
- Men entering women's private spaces and homeless shelters
- Men gaining access to opportunities specifically designated for women
"This is a step in the right direction in making sure our government and society confirms what a woman is and protects sex-based rights that are based on biology," states Mary Elizabeth Castle, director of government relations for Texas Values.
