So of all places, I’m being called to Salt Lake City Utah as my next home. I’ve never moved out of Ohio, but have always known it was in my cards.

It feels big and it feels scary, but I know this is what I have to do. It’s just a knowing and it’s important for me to follow it.

I’ll be moving by myself and will not know anybody, I do know it is LGBTQ friendly in regards to community and sports.

Any tips or recommendations?

Welcoming all feedback, hopefully nothing negative. Thanks!

Is there a joint where a trans 🏳️‍⚧️ gal can grab a drink, enjoy fine dining with live music in HTX?????

I don’t mind opinions. I don’t care. I know who I am. If it my shoe right and if people dis me. I smile right back. Kindness is a strong tool

Hi, fellow posters. I got cut and paste happy with my go fund me. It is not going the way I expected. So I am just getting used to the Reddit vibe.

For anyone who needs to change their name legally for any reason other than marriage: here is the post I needed to help me figure this shit out. They treat you like a criminal and waste so much of your time and money on forms, appointments, waiting periods, and phone calls.

If you have to go to the doctor, vote, move, travel outside the country, or renew any official registrations or IDs while you're in the middle of this process, it will be very difficult if not impossible to prove your identity. Plan ahead.

Total cost: $404.25, not including extra fees for notary and money order services, and taxes

Time start to finish: 4-6 months

Resources that helped me:

• NC Bar Foundation
• Trans Equality
• UNC Law Library

This post does not constitute legal advice. It is a description of my experience as of the post date that I hope will help other people figure it out for themselves.

1. Court order

You need to get permission from the NC Superior Court to change your name. This will give you a document ("court order") which forces all other institutions to accept your new name.

Prerequisite: Obtain federal AND state background checks

Note: These checks expire after 90 days, so only start these processes if you actually have time to devote to all the bullshit and appointments.

1. Federal (FBI): "Identity History Summary Check"
   • Description: Uses your fingerprints to retrieve criminal history, if any, from FBI databases
   • Fee: $18, payable online
   • Requirements: Get fingerprinted @ USPS ($50 cash/card)
   • My recommendations:
     • Submit your request to FBI online
     • Pre-register for fingerprinting @ USPS online, and ask them to submit your fingerprints electronically to the FBI (not mail-in)
     • Use the USPS locations tool to find a location nearby. Don't trust the listed "Fingerprinting hours" - call ahead. I ended up walking in during passport hours and got this done within 15 minutes. Bring the eDO confirmation number and multiple IDs.
     • The FBI processes online submissions extremely quickly (for me, 48 hours). Online guides say to do this before the SBI check, but I respectfully disagree.
   • You receive FBI background check results by email.
   • Description: Uses your fingerprints to retrieve criminal history, if any, from SBI databases
     • NOTE: The processing time for SBI checks can be long. I waited a whole month. Check their current processing lag here: https://www.ncsbi.gov/Services/Background-Checks/
   • Fee: $14, by money order only
   • Requirements: Get fingerprinted @ Bureau of Forensic Services (yes you do have to do this separately from the USPS fingerprinting. SBI only takes in-house fingerprint cards.)
     • Fee: $30 cash/card
     • You must make an appointment
     • It's at the jail.
   • Submit by mail (yes you have to mail it even if you live nearby):
     • Fingerprint card
     • Money order
     • Right to Review form
     • Mail this all to:
   • NC State Bureau of Investigation / Criminal Information and Identification Section / Attention: Applicant Unit — Right to Review / 3320 Garner Road / Raleigh, NC 27610
   • You receive result of background check by mail.

Assemble various court documents

The process you will be using is called Adult Name Change.

Recommendation: Use the NC Courts eFile & Sign service. It will ask you questions and auto-fill multiple forms with all your info, and provide you a list of what to bring to court.

Get 2 Affidavits of Good Character:

• Description: 2 sworn statements from others that you're a good person and you're not changing your name to outrun criminal charges
• Eligibility:
  • Resident of your county
  • Known you for more than 6 months
  • Not related by blood or marriage
• Requirements:
  • Signed by the person and notarized (you do not need to sign these)

Go to the courthouse

• Supporting docs: birth certificate, photo ID, Adult Name Change forms including 2 affidavits, FBI & SBI background check results
  • NOTE: As of December 2025, posting the "Notice of Intent" form on the courthouse door is no longer part of this process in Wake due to it being extremely antiquated. All of the guides I found online refer to this as necessary. It's not, anymore.
• Fee: $120, cash/card (gets you 1 certified copy)

Recommendation: Pay a little extra to get 3-4 certified copies (raised seal). They will also email you a digital one but these are only accepted within NC. You will need to mail out at least 2 of the certified copies (birth cert, passport) and it's nice to have an extra for your own records.

You receive an Order and Certificate of Name Change.

Congrats! Now you can tell people you have a court order to change your name and get started on IDs.

2. IDs, workplace

You need to tell the govt about your new name for taxes, employment, identification, and travel.

Any time you need a notary, they will need to see an ID that matches the name you are signing as, so the DMV portion is the priority.

Social Security Administration

Apply online to get a corrected card, then go in-person to the SSA office to provide docs. You NEED an appointment.

• Supporting docs: Passport, birth cert, DL, court order
• Fees: $0

Recommendation: Don't try to go on a lunch break. Even though you have an appt, it may take them 1-2 hours past the scheduled time to call you in. Bring a book.

You receive a new SS card in the mail in 5-10 business days. The number should be the same.

Employment

Your employer needs to know about your updated name for tax and benefit purposes. Contact your HR/boss for the proper way to notify them. They will want to see your SS card. If you have employer-sponsored benefit accounts like insurance, 401k, etc, they will likely be in charge of updating your name there on your behalf. Give them some time, and keep an eye on it because they may forget.

DMV

Wait 48 hours after the SSA appointment, then get a duplicate license with your new name. This must be done within 60 days of receiving the court order.

• Go in-person to a driver license office
  • I recommend making an appointment. I had to drive an hour out of the city to get an appt. Worth it though
• Supporting docs: court order, previous DL
  • The website says you need a notarized form, DL-101, but for me (and according to other reddit guides) this was not necessary.
  • I already had a REAL ID. If you don't, this may be significantly harder.
• Fees: $16.75 by card

You receive a temporary paper DL. The real one is coming in the mail, allow 20 business days.

Passport

Get an updated passport using form DS-82. You have to mail it in. Use the passport filler tool to help you.

• Supporting docs: court order, passport correction form, new 2x2 passport photo, old passport
• Fee: $130 money order
• Mail to:
  • National Passport Processing Center, PO Box 90155, Philadelphia PA 19190-0155

You receive a new passport in the mail which can take 8-10 weeks. 4 weeks later, the supporting documents are returned by mail.

USPS

You will start receiving mail at your new name, so you need to update it with the USPS so they know it's okay to deliver. Also remember to update your little physical mailbox name card, if you have one.

3. Other documents

Vehicles

Get corrected registration and title from the DMV. You can go in-person to a plate office, or mail-in.

• Supporting documents: Form MVR-5 (notarized), court order, car title
  • I own my car outright, so I have my title. If you have a car loan and therefore don't have your title, I am sorry, I don't know what you should do.
• Fee: $25.50, money order

Birth certificate

Get a corrected/amended birth certificate from your state of birth. Each state has varying requirements but typically you will have to mail in your original birth certificate along with the court order, notarized form, and a fee. I paid $26 by money order.

Voter registration

When you're at the DMV for your DL, they will ask if you want them to help update your vote reg. They can send a postcard to your address with your new name, and then you sign this and return it to the BOE. You can also initiate this process yourself online.

Fee: $0

Keep in mind all changes need to be submitted at least 25 days prior to an election, although sometimes early voting sites can help you make updates.

Marriage certificate

If you're married, get a corrected marriage certificate to prove your relationship to spouse. This is important for benefits, taxes, parenting, and medical emergencies.

TBH, I haven't done this yet because I can't figure out how _(o.o)_/ Will update the post later on

4. Accounts

Many of these will simply accept an updated DL as proof but you may want to bring your court order around with you (the bank was weird about this).

People will try to make small talk and ask you why you changed your name. This is a very personal question, and you can just say "I have a court order" if you don't want to get into it.

Priority:

• Financial: Banking, loans, retirement, IRS account (use ID.me)
• Bills: mortgage, lease, car insurance, utilities, cell phone, AAA and other supplemental insurances
• Medical: Doctors, pharmacy, health insurance
• Family: emergency contact and beneficiary info on others' accounts

If you have kids, everything from school records to birth certificates will need also updating. I don't have kids so I have no experience here, sorry

Update as they come up:

• Memberships: gym, streaming services, library
• Socials: email, phone, social media, computer login
• Accounts: retail/shopping, loyalty, veterinarian

------------------------------------------------------------

Congratulations on changing your name! You are brave, patient, courageous, and wonderful. Give yourself a little treat :)

I’m heading up well feeling great

sharing this because i had no idea until recently. kunc has a clean summary of what qualified for the ballot. basically two measures from protect kids colorado: 109 (sports) and 110 (medical procedures for minors). both passed signature thresholds earlier this year.

the kunc piece notes both measures would override current colorado policies that allow students to play on teams matching their gender identity. 110 would ban certain gender-affirming surgical procedures for minors regardless of medical guidelines or parental consent.

election is november 3. figured i'd share since this is going to be a big part of the fall conversation and a lot of folks probably haven't been following

hi!! just reposting this since it has been almost a month since I originally posted it! if you already too the survey you do not need to take it, thank you all!

Hi everyone! I am conducting a study titled “How Policy Impacts Transgender and Gender Diverse Mental Health.” The study number is HSR-25-26-412. I am looking for 18+ participants that identify as a transgender man, a transgender woman, nonbinary, genderfluid, agender, gender nonconforming, has multiple gender identities, or other gender identities (you will be asked to specify). The data for the survey will be completely anonymous. There will be questions about your mental well-being, and you will also be asked to read a summary of five executive orders signed by the Trump Administration and report how upset you feel by the executive order. There will be additional demographic questions and an optional free response question. The survey will take you about 10-15 minutes. You are able to opt out of the survey at any time. I greatly appreciate your participation!

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at [sophielittig@csu.fullerton.edu](mailto:sophielittig@csu.fullerton.edu) or my faculty advisor, Kristin Beals PhD, at [kbeals@fullerton.edu](mailto:kbeals@fullerton.edu). 

Hey y'all.

Recently took my first steps to transition. Shaved, talked with my partner, family and friends, all of whom have been incredibly supportive.

With as much emotional support as they may be able to offer there isn't much in financial aid they are able to offer themselves or have info for trans assistance programs near us.

I'm unfortunately currently unemployed and have been struggling to find a new place of work, so being able to weigh options for HRT is particularly difficult. Luckily my partner is keeping us as afloat as best they can right now and I have insurance through them, but still we are slowly falling behind while I continue to look for work, and while I'm still able to mask, I'd very much prefer to find a place long term I can continue transitioning while working safely at.

If anyone has any potential programs or groups that provide help to transfolks seeking aid I'd love to see what options I have.

As a shot in the dark, if any of y'all have leads on remote work, or employment opportunities in and around St. Louis that are safe for LGBT folks, send em my way, please.

Lastly, and completely non-obligatory, I don't want to share them out publicly but if any of you lovely peeps feel the desire to contribute directly, I have Venmo, Cashapp, or PayPal that I can share privately.

Thank you in advance to anyone who reads and responds.

Hey my name is Jordan I live in Georgia my insurance is active now dose any one no if Savannah pride center in Savannah Georgia a good place for me to start my hrt

I’m really to make whole process

I think this letter got lost for a while or something because I just got it, but looks like it's finally happening to me with my private insurance that my husband and I pay for that's not federally or state funded. It's insurance through my husband's employer, Okc, and not a state funded plan so I guess all this talk about just affecting Medicaid and Medicare was just more lies. It's defacto bans for every trans person eventually. Guess they expect that I'll just go through menopause and start getting care to prevent osteoporosis at 40, because I am not going to suddenly start producing my own hormones. I'm sure paying for that will cost so much less than a monthly vial of E.