SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Hunter Schafer emphasized the importance of staying informed about the current state of affairs in the United States following her recent experience with the gender marker on her newly issued passport. The “Euphoria” star, who identifies as transgender, expressed her feelings on the red carpet during the Independent Spirit Awards. Schafer, 26, revealed that she felt compelled to share her situation, viewing it as a significant message to communicate. During the awards, she was also nominated for best lead performance for her role in “Cuckoo.”
In a noteworthy shift in policy established during the Trump administration, an executive order was signed on the first day of his presidency, fundamentally altering how sex is defined by the federal government. This order restricted the definition of gender to strictly male or female and mandated that this classification be reflected in official documents, including passports. As a consequence, the State Department ceased the issuance of passports with the “X” gender marker that had been available since 2021 and discontinued the alteration of gender markers between “M” and “F.”
Schafer recently shared her experience in an 8½-minute TikTok video, explaining that her passport, which she anticipated would suffice for years to come, was stolen while she was filming in Spain. After receiving a temporary emergency passport, Schafer applied for a more permanent document once she returned to Los Angeles. Despite having held passports with female markers since her teenage years and designating “female” in her application, she was issued a passport that categorized her as male. She noted that she hadn’t updated her birth certificate to reflect her gender identity.
In her TikTok, Schafer addressed the executive order directly, stating, “Because our president, you know, is a lot of talk, I was like, ‘I’ll believe it when I see it.’ And, today, I saw it,” as she showcased her passport page with the male designation. She clarified that her intention wasn’t to incite fear or attract sympathy, but rather to shed light on the existing realities surrounding transgender issues and document her experience.
Schafer spoke about the significance of her support network, expressing gratitude for the community surrounding her during this challenging time. “I wasn’t even really looking for support, but I have an amazing community around me and it’s one of the greatest blessings of my life,” she said.
In response to inquiries about her situation, the State Department acknowledged the enforcement of the Trump executive order but refrained from discussing individual cases due to legal privacy constraints.
Schafer reflected on the impact of her new passport, stating, “It doesn’t really change anything about me or my transness. However, it does make my life a little harder.” She is set to travel for the first time with this new passport next week.
Concluding her video, Schafer affirmed the resilience of the transgender community, stating, “Trans people are beautiful. We are never going to stop existing. I’m never going to stop being trans. A letter and a passport can’t change that.”
