Deana, a trans woman, came over to my table and explained she was currently unhoused and couldn’t apply for housing assistance because she didn’t have an ID. She also didn’t have a birth certificate and couldn’t afford the fee to get a new copy. Without a driver’s license, she had no reliable way to travel to the DMV to get what she needed.
Could VoteRiders help, she asked. You bet we could!
Not only has VoteRiders helped her track down and pay for a copy of her birth certificate, but we also arranged transportation to and from the NC DMV to get a “no fee ID” she can now use to obtain housing. Through our partnership with the LGBT Center, we will continue to help her update her name and gender marker on her ID. |
Trans and nonbinary people face unique hurdles when it comes to accessing the ID they need to register and vote safely.
That’s why VoteRiders created Vote With Pride — a state-by-state and step-by-step guide for LGBTQIA+ voters who need reliable information and free help updating their IDs and registering to vote. This Pride Month and all year round, VoteRiders is working closely with LGBTQIA+ communities to ensure they can vote with confidence. |
When Deana’s name and gender marker are finally updated, she’ll have what she needs to cast a ballot with complete confidence. For Deana, voting is a way to be engaged, a way to take action, and a way to shape her environment.
“If you have a beating heart, you should take part,” she told me. |
