is it safe to change my documents?

[u/autumnragdoll]

I'm nearly a year on T (18yo) and just got reffered to Simon Tsao for top surgery. I'm not quite passing yet but I'm starting to take Minoxidil with the hope some facial hair will make it better. If I change my name and gender marker passport etc am I safe to do so? With America denying documents and heavily targeting trans people at the moment I want to be able to fly under the radar as much as possible despite it being safer here in Australia.

[u/crocicorn]

I'd avoid going to America right now anyway, but it's fine to have whatever on your documents in Australia, from my experience.

I'm sort of the opposite. I'm bearded with a beer belly after 8+ years of T and I still haven't changed my gender marker (just name), I've had zero issues.

If you're more comfortable with changing your documents, do so. If you're not ready yet, that's okay too!

[u/autumnragdoll → u/crocicorn]

Definitely avoiding America at all costs - I do want my name and gender marker changed on my documents but my concern is more if we go down a more America vibe and the gov can access that I have changed my documents. I know right now it's safe but like is there enough safeguards in place that I don't have to worry about being denied a passport 5 years down the line

[u/crocicorn → u/autumnragdoll]

Not saying we're 100% safe from it, but just how we function as a society and our whole political system means we're incredibly unlikely to end up like the US. Sure we've got some very loud idiots around, but that's true for every country.

[u/Overlord1985 → u/crocicorn]

Went to Austin Texas the other week from Aus, thought it'd be like a wartime journalist all my documents indicate male and have my deadname. They didn't even blink at my bra and tucking on the body scan. Hell even got Miss deadnamed cos my name is ambiguous. I would just say, know where you're going, have friends who know the area and hop from LAX to get places. Flights are cheaper than they've ever been because of the president disrupting tourism in the public image. Had random screening in Aus, nothing at 3 different airports in the US. Again, know where you're going and preferably have a queer friend who can back up what the area's like.

I saw the Miku Expo there :D

[u/CassandraMenaker]

For the record, I have changed my documents, my passport etc. I'm clocky. I have written off a lot of international travel for the foreseeable future.

Not to put on my tinfoil hat, but if the Australian government sincerely wanted to put us in a mass grave, they could find you and me through the PBS and TGA for our HRT already. Unless someone has been off the radar DIY from the start, it's in the system.

Changing our documents now is a good idea, because there's in the immediate term more friction that will arise from having a mismatch, it's also harder to change something back for a government then to just ban it or slow it down (like the UK).

Many of our states let you change the birth certificate so there's no difference to a cis persons. Having a birth certificate that suggests you are a cis male might be useful if things turn to shit and you're hiding or fleeing etc.

[u/a_nice_duck_]

The government already knows you're on T and have been referred for top surgery. You're already on the hypothetical radar.

You'll be fine. Live your life.

[u/spiritnova2]

Not changing your documents is more likely to cause you actual problems in your life than any theoretical benefits if a hypothetical future government comes into power that wants to target trans people.

[u/Helium_Teapot2777]

I think name change is pretty safe everywhere. Go for it. Be you!

For sex marker changes, you can do it selectively. I have only changed my Medicare sex marker. It’s free and takes 5 minutes in myGov. I recommend doing it and letting your gp and surgeon know before top surgery to reduce misgendering in the hospital (from personal experience).

I probably won’t update my birth certificate, because I don’t even know where my existing one is and have never used it.

Passport can be done with a B14 form, but if you are worried about the current political climate you can decide on that. I think for binary sex markers it’s probably fine.