Hunter Schafer arrives at the Film Independent Spirit Awards on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2025, in Santa Monica, Calif. AP Photo.
Hunter Schafer, the well-known Euphoria star, recently revealed that her newly issued passport mistakenly identified her as male. The 26-year-old actor, who is trans, shared her experience in an 8.5-minute TikTok video, urging people to stay informed about policy changes affecting the transgender community.
A Necessary Conversation
Speaking to the media on the red carpet at the Independent Spirit Awards, Schafer emphasized the importance of raising awareness. "It was a good, necessary point to share," she said. Schafer, also nominated for Best Lead Performance for her role in Cuckoo, stated that she wasn’t looking for sympathy but wanted to highlight the reality of the situation.
Passport Mistake Stems from Policy Change
The error in Schafer’s passport aligns with a policy change under former President Donald Trump. On his first day in office, Trump signed an executive order restricting the federal definition of sex to only "male" or "female," which must be reflected on official documents. As a result, the U.S. State Department stopped issuing passports with the "X" gender marker and no longer allows changes between "M" and "F."
Schafer explained that her passport was stolen while filming in Spain. After receiving an emergency passport, she later applied for a permanent one in Los Angeles. Although she marked “female” on her application—consistent with her previous passport and driver’s license—she was shocked to receive a passport that listed her as male.
Calling Out the Reality
In her TikTok video, Schafer acknowledged the policy shift, expressing her disappointment. Holding up her passport, she remarked, “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.”
Despite the setback, Schafer remains resilient. "It doesn’t change who I am or my transness," she stated. However, she admitted that the mistake complicates her life, especially as she prepares to travel internationally with the incorrect gender marker.
A Message of Strength
Hunter Schafer made it clear that her intention was not to create fear or seek validation. Instead, she wanted to shed light on how policy decisions impact real lives. She expressed gratitude for the support she has received, saying, “I have an amazing community around me, and it’s one of the greatest blessings of my life.”
The State Department confirmed it is implementing the executive order but declined to comment on specific cases due to privacy regulations.
Closing her video with a powerful message, Schafer declared, “Trans people are beautiful. We are never going to stop existing. A letter and a passport can’t change that.”
