Trans Resource Navigator

Florida

ID documents
Restrictive
Care
Restrictive
Shield lawA state law that protects patients and providers of gender-affirming care from investigations, subpoenas, or extradition attempts by states that ban that care.
No

Florida is one of the most restrictive states for trans people.

More about Florida

You can still change your name in circuit court (with a required FBI/FDLE fingerprint check), but since January 2024 the driver's license agency will not change the sex on an existing license or ID, and the Department of Health has stopped amending the sex on birth certificates. A 2023 law (SB 254) bans hormone therapy and surgery for minors and requires adults to see a physician in person and sign a state consent form; Florida Medicaid and state-funded plans exclude gender-affirming care. Both restrictions are being challenged in federal court. Florida has no shield law.

This state’s pages are drafts written from official sources and not yet checked by a person. What this means

Your documents, in order

Most people go in this order, because each office checks the one before it. On every document, updating your name and changing your gender marker are separate questions with separate answers.

  1. Legal name changeState court
    Name
    LimitedNo newspaper notice, court hearing required
  2. Social SecurityFederal, same in every state
    Name
    YesAfter your legal name change
    Gender marker
    NoCannot be changed right now
  3. Driver's license / state IDFlorida DMV
    Name
    YesAfter your legal name change
    Gender marker
    NoCannot be changed right now
  4. US passportFederal, same in every state
    Name
    YesAfter your legal name change
    Gender marker
    NoCannot be changed right now
  5. Birth certificateOnly if born in Florida
    Name
    YesAfter your legal name change
    Gender marker
    NoCannot be changed right now

Born somewhere other than Florida? Your birth certificate follows the state where you were born. Choose your birth state

Gender-affirming care

Adults
Limited
Under 18
Banned
Florida bans hormone therapy, puberty blockers, and surgery for anyone under 18.Find clinics, health centers, telehealth, and ways to pay

Local help

Statewide organizations

  • Southern Legal Counsel, Trans Rights Initiative[5]

    Gainesville-based nonprofit law firm that represents low-income Floridians statewide. Its Trans Rights Initiative handles gender marker problems with state and federal documents and brought the Medicaid and SB 254 challenges. Apply through its online intake.

    • Free

    Serves: Statewide

    352-271-88901229 NW 12th Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601

  • Equality Florida, Transgender Equality program[6]

    Statewide LGBTQ advocacy group. Publishes FAQs on the driver's license policy and runs community education and health care resource sharing for trans Floridians.

    • Free

  • Trans Lifeline[7]

    Peer-support hotline run by and for trans people, 877-565-8860.

    • Free
    877-565-8860Languages: English, Español
Sources for this page (7)

Sources

7 sources. Numbers in the text, like [1], point here.

  1. Fla. Stat. § 456.52, Sex-reassignment prescriptions and procedures; prohibitions; informed consentThe Florida Senate, Law. accessed
    “Sex-reassignment prescriptions and procedures are prohibited for patients younger than 18 years of age”
  2. FAQ on DHSMV MemoEquality Florida, Organization. accessed
    “those with updated gender markers should be able to retain their affirming gender markers upon renewal”
  3. Step 5, Birth Certificate GenderFlorida Name Change Project, Community. accessed
    “The Florida Department of Health recently changed its policy to prohibit gender marker amendments on Florida birth certificates.”
  4. Healthcare laws and policiesMovement Advancement Project, Organization. accessed
  5. Southern Legal CounselOrganization. accessed
  6. Transgender EqualityEquality Florida, Organization. accessed
  7. Trans LifelineOrganization. accessed