A controversial new bill in Texas, known as House Bill 3817, proposes making it a crime for transgender individuals to disclose their gender identity if it differs from their sex assigned at birth. If passed, the bill would introduce a new offense called “gender identity fraud,” making it illegal for transgender people to identify as their trans gender to employers, law enforcement, or on government applications. Violators could face up to two years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
The bill was introduced by Republican state Representative Tom Oliverson and is part of a wave of anti-trans legislation being pushed since Donald Trump’s return to office. The proposal follows other recent policies, including banning transgender people from serving in the military and restricting gender marker changes on official identification. Critics argue that the bill effectively forces transgender Texans to misrepresent themselves, putting them at risk of discrimination, harassment, and legal punishment.
Despite the bill’s introduction, it has not yet moved to a committee, and it lacks a co-sponsor, making its chances of becoming law uncertain. Advocacy groups like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) have condemned the bill, calling it an attack on transgender individuals’ rights and dignity. The ACLU warned that such laws could lead to further government overreach and deepen the stigma against transgender people.
Texas has already faced backlash for policies targeting the transgender community, such as halting gender marker changes on state-issued IDs. As the debate continues, activists are urging lawmakers to reject the bill, arguing that it would criminalize basic self-expression and further marginalize an already vulnerable population.
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