Houston Man Struggles To Reverse Gender Marker Under New Paxton Policy

A Houston man who was born male and decided to detransition after realizing he “would always be viewed as a second-class citizen,” now can’t change his driver’s license sex back to male after a new policy by the office of Attorney General Ken Paxton.

The man, whose last name is Razavi, transitioned to female a few years ago and changed all legal documents accordingly, but decided to detransition. In March he obtained a court order from a district court in Travis County to change his license back. However, after a new policy by the AG’s office, the Texas Department of Public Safety said it no longer accepted a court order for changing a person’s sex on their driver’s license, so Razavi’s request was denied.

“I am a biological male,” Razavi, 41,  told Texas Monthly. “I’m six five with a beard and actual penis, but according to Ken Paxton, I am to remain legally a woman.”

The internal policy, implemented via email, prevents any updates to sex markers unless there was an initial clerical error. DPS employees, following the new directive, were required to report names of individuals requesting sex marker changes.

“Now I’m on this tiny little list of people Ken Paxton has an agenda against,” said Razavi. “It’s super scary.”

DPS also refused to let Razavi change his name as the request was tied to his petition to change his sex. Name changes are common petitions.

“I’d have to ask them for another petition to even change my name separately,” he said. “I feel like I was really denied my rights in this situation.”

However, DPS allowed him to change his photo for $11.

Razavi said the situation is also complicating his plans to change other legal documentation like his bank records and work bodge.

“This is what Ken Paxton wants. He wants people to be their gender [assigned at birth],” said Razavi. “So I’m literally trying to be in compliance with what they want. And I’m stuck in this limbo now.”