Latest news with #CaliforniaRealID
Los Angeles Times
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Transgender Americans say they're traveling less out of fear since the election, research shows
Michelle Rosenblum of Ventura is planning a family vacation to Hawaii. She is excited — but worried. Rosenblum is transgender. After President Trump's election in November to a second term, she said, she rushed to get her identity documents in order as a matter of safety. Rosenblum updated her California birth certificate to show she had transitioned. And she renewed her passport. She applied as a female but was stunned to receive a letter from the U.S. Department of State saying her application had to be changed 'to correct your information to show your biological sex at birth.' As she prepares to fly, Rosenblum fears the discrepancy between her California Real ID — which says female — and her passport will create problems with the Transportation Security Administration. In an email to The Times, Lorie Dankers, a TSA spokesperson, said the agency 'accepts documents for identity verification with an 'X' marker. There is no change to this policy.' In California, residents have had the option to choose 'X' for nonbinary since 2019. But not all states allow this. And for transgender people who have transitioned from one gender to the other and do not fall under the 'X' category, discrepancies can remain. Rosenblum is debating bringing a stack of documents to the airport that she would rather keep safe at home, such as her birth certificate, Social Security card, and a court order showing her change in gender. 'In the 10 years that I've been transitioned, I have never felt like, 'Whoa, I need to get all my papers together,'' said Rosenblum, who works in marketing. 'I was never concerned about traveling.' In a newly released survey of transgender Americans by the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law, nearly a third of respondents said they were traveling less frequently as a result of the 2024 election. Nearly 70% said they were less likely to go on vacation to states they viewed as more hostile to transgender people, particularly politically conservative states in the South and Midwest. The survey, published this month, also showed that 48% of respondents were considering moving or had already moved to places in the U.S. they viewed as safer— notably, blue states such as California, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York and Washington. Forty-five percent of respondents said they wanted to move out of the country because of the current political climate. 'When you feel that you need to consider moving, you've been pushed to a certain point,' said Abbie Goldberg, the lead author of the survey and an affiliated scholar at the Williams Institute, which researches public policy surrounding sexual orientation and gender identity. 'If you're a trans person living in the U.S., particularly in a state with not a lot of protections and some explicitly anti-trans legislation, you're thinking about your physical safety, your children's safety at school, the possibility you could be fired from your job and no way to push back.' However, most respondents who wanted to move said they face barriers, including the high cost of living, in places such as California. The survey of 302 transgender, nonbinary and gender-diverse adults was conducted in December, before Trump's inauguration. Goldberg said the percentages of trans people wanting to move and declining to travel are probably higher now. In his first 100 days, Trump issued executive orders banning trans women from women's sports and barring the federal government from recognizing genders other than male or female. Trump also is pushing to ban transgender Americans from the U.S. military, writing in an executive order that transgender identity is a 'falsehood' inconsistent with the 'humility and selflessness required of a service member.' The Supreme Court cleared the way this month for that ban to take effect. In California, Democrats are divided on some LGBTQ+ issues, such as trans athletes competing in women's sports. But progressive leaders have cast the state as a bulwark against Trump's opposition to transgender rights, which will probably be a big issue in the state's 2026 campaign for governor. Rosenblum said she is grateful to live in California, where she feels protected by the state's antidiscrimination laws. But as she gets ready for vacation, she said, 'it feels like people are trying to shove me back into the closet.' Email us at essentialcalifornia@ and your response might appear in the newsletter this week. Today's great photo is from contributor Gioncarlo Valentine in the studio of artist Diego Cardoso, who is painting L.A. as it really moves, one street at a time. Kevinisha Walker, multiplatform editorAndrew Campa, Sunday writerKarim Doumar, head of newsletters How can we make this newsletter more useful? Send comments to essentialcalifornia@ Check our top stories, topics and the latest articles on
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Yahoo
How can I tell if I have a real ID? Look for this symbol on your Arizona license
When the requirements for Real ID finally take effect nationwide on May 7, air travelers must have a star on their state identification to get through security and board their flight. As the May 7 deadline approaches, people are applying for Real IDs at state motor vehicle offices and approved third-party offices. They arrive with the necessary documents so they'll be ready to fly and avoid the consequences of not having one. But how do you know if your drivers license is Real ID-ready? Here's how to tell if you have a Real ID and what an Arizona Travel ID, the state's version of Real, ID, looks like. The Arizona Travel ID — which is a Real ID — is distinguishable from a standard drivers license by a gold or black star on the upper right corner. Starting May 7, your ID must have that gold or black star in the corner to pass through airport security checkpoints or enter federal buildings. Most states' Real ID cards have a solid gold or black star, or a clear star inside a gold or black circle. The California Real ID has a clear star inside a gold bear, which plays on the California state flag that shows a grizzly bear atop a patch of grass. Recently issued state credentials that are not Real ID-compliant will include the label, "Not for federal identification." A gold star on the upper right corner of an Arizona Travel ID indicates that it's Real ID compliant. Get weekend plans. Sign up for our Things to Do newsletter. Travel IDs issued since 2023 contain a black star. Regardless of whether the star is gold or black, it signifies a Real ID. The Arizona Travel ID costs $25. An Arizona Real ID is good for eight years. Phoenix airport guide: All the airlines, food and lounges in Terminal 3, Terminal 4 Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist who's covered travel and tourism since 2014. His work as The Arizona Republic's consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations. He can be reached at Subscribe to today. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: What does Real ID look like? How to tell if you have one
