you have to update your social security card first. it's doable, but it's a whole chain of paperwork and documents. I transitioned 5 years ago and I still haven't really updated my legal name.
I mean, I can claim my name is whatever I like, but when the police pull me or a bank clerk ask me for an ID to identify myself before withdrawing the money, what stays there would be something different.
I am surprised that in the USA one is even allowed to present himself in the official context by the "non official" name. Is changing a legal name there so complex? Yes, it's a lot of work to change all documents, but does it really take five years?
* Court order to change name (I've done this, but decided I didn't like the name so I need to do it again.)
* Send form to change sex on driver's license (did this.)
* Go in person to DMV to update name and get new photo (haven't done this because pandemic.)
* Update gender and name on passport (requires attestation from doctor, copy of court order, previous passport and current ID, if passport is expired) (haven't done this.)
* Update gender and name on social security card (requires updated passport.)
* Update name on bank (requires updated social security card)
And to change sex on birth certificate, according to the rules of my state:
* Get endorsements from therapist and psychiatrist for vaginoplasty.
* Get vaginoplasty.
* Doctor attests to the state that you have a vagina now.
* Original birth certificate, attestation and passport -> updated birth certificate.
The last step isn't super necessary unless you're emigrating to another country.
Looks unnecessary complicated, but it seems there's no way around some of the complexity if you live in a country without a centrally issued ID for every citizen.
However, the whole gender and name changing process should not have to be more complicated than what people that want to change name after marrying have to do. But I guess there's still no political will to make it simpler.
