Theresa O'Connor shared a post. (Facebook)
I'm heading to Japan in a few days for work. In anticipation of this trip, I put in to have the name and gender marker on my passport updated a couple of months ago.
On Thursday, 8 days before the trip, my application was denied. Due to the nature of the denial, I couldn't be assured I'd even get my *old* passport back in time for my Japan trip, unless I went to the passport agency in person.
The catch was, my application was processed at the passport agency in Washington, DC.
So I hopped on a redeye and walked through the Washington Passport Agency doors right as they opened Friday morning. After several hours, I walked out with a new passport, with my updated name and gender marker.
Over the course of 30 hours I visited four airports, flew on four planes of two airlines, and took two trains. I was on the ground in DC for 14 hours.
I'm heading to Japan in a few days for work. In anticipation of this trip, I put in to have the name and gender marker on my passport updated a couple of months ago.
On Thursday, 8 days before the trip, my application was denied. Due to the nature of the denial, I couldn't be assured I'd even get my *old* passport back in time for my Japan trip, unless I went to the passport agency in person.
The catch was, my application was processed at the passport agency in Washington, DC.
So I hopped on a redeye and walked through the Washington Passport Agency doors right as they opened Friday morning. After several hours, I walked out with a new passport, with my updated name and gender marker.
Over the course of 30 hours I visited four airports, flew on four planes of two airlines, and took two trains. I was on the ground in DC for 14 hours.
Facebook suggested I create a “then and now” post with the “then” being a happy photo of me receiving my passport with an F gender marker.
Great timing, since I recently received a new passport on which the gender marker was changed without my consent, pursuant to Executive Order 14168.
Read about it here: https://tess.oconnor.cx/2025/03/travel