Hunter Schafer, the star of "Euphoria," emphasized the significance of staying informed about the state of affairs in the nation a day after sharing a video that revealed a striking discovery in her newly issued passport. On the red carpet at the Independent Spirit Awards on Saturday, the 26-year-old transgender actress, who was also a presenter at the ceremony and nominated for Best Lead Performance for her role in "Cuckoo," spoke candidly with The Associated Press about her decision to share her experience.
"It felt like a crucial and timely moment to bring this to light," she expressed.
Schafer's revelation comes amidst a policy shift instigated by President Donald Trump on his inaugural day, which redefined sex at the federal level as strictly male or female, mandating this classification on official documents, including passports. As a result, the State Department, responsible for issuing passports, has put an end to the implementation of the "X" gender marker, which was introduced in 2021, and is declining to process requests to change gender markers from "M" to "F" or vice versa.
In an emotional 8 ½-minute TikTok video posted on Friday, Schafer, who transitioned during her early teenage years, recounted how her passport, meant to serve her for years to come, was stolen while she was filming in Spain. After securing an emergency passport, she was compelled to apply for a new permanent one in Los Angeles. Having had female gender markers on her license and previous passport since her teenage years, Schafer indicated "female" on her application, only to receive a passport identifying her as male. Notably, she mentioned that her birth certificate had not been amended.
Addressing the executive order in her TikTok video, Schafer said, "With all the talk from our president, I thought, 'I'll believe it when I see it.' And today, I saw it," as she held up her new passport page bearing the "M" marker. She clarified that her intent in making the video was not to incite fear or drama but to highlight the stark reality of the situation.
"I didn't seek support, but I'm fortunate to have an incredible community around me, which has been a tremendous blessing. I felt supported throughout this journey," she told the AP on Saturday.
In response to a request for comment, the State Department cited privacy laws and restrictions while acknowledging its implementation of Trump's executive order, declining to discuss specific cases.
"This doesn't alter my identity or my transgender experience. However, it does add an extra layer of complexity to my life," Schafer said in the video, noting that she would be traveling with her new passport for the first time next week.
"Transgender people are beautiful. We will continue to exist. I will always be trans. A letter on a passport cannot change that," she concluded, her message resonating with strength and resilience.
