Florida cancels driver's license of trans actor after changing gender label
The Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) issued a correction to a transgender TikToker after he tried to change his gender on a driver's license.
Transgender actor James Rose, known as “Jamesissmiling” on TikTok, posted a video on December 20, which is now unavailable, saying there is a loophole in Florida law that would allow citizens to change their gender identity on IDs.
“I just changed my gender on my driver's license in the free f—ing state of Florida,” Rose exclaimed. “My god, Ron DeSantis would be screaming right now if he knew about this. This little license now says woman on it.”
He went on to say that this actor is not easy. You should not even be able to do this in this situation. Here is the gap, here is the gap. Listen! instead of it because you 'discarded it,' they have to take all your information from what they consider the 'master text.' The passport is considered the primary document, and you can identify yourself on your passport which means, loophole, you can identify yourself on your Florida f—ing driver's license.”
TikToker James Rose said there is room to help transgender people change their gender on Florida driver's licenses despite DMV policy. (Stock)
THE STATE OF FLORIDA ISSUES A MEMO REGARDING COMPLIANCE WITH STATE LAWS ON TRANSGENDER ORGANIZATIONS AND PRONOUNS.
On Tuesday, the Libs' TikTok X account flagged the news that the FLHSMV had been notified of the video and canceled Rose's new license on Monday.
In a written response obtained by Fox News Digital, Executive Deputy Director Robert Kynoch confirmed that Rose's license was revoked after it was found to be in violation of state DMV policy.
“Please be advised that the gender identification in lieu of the Florida driver's license issued to you on December 20, 2024, was improperly changed from male to female. Therefore, that license…is invalid and cancelled,” the letter read.
The letter also revealed that the department is now investigating the situation, believing that James may have violated laws that prohibit a person from “knowingly lying, willfully concealing a material fact, or making a deception” after realizing that James used spiritual quotes. next to the word “lost.”
Commenting on Fox News Digital, Ron DeSantis' communications director Bryan Griffin insisted there is no “cooling off” in the legislation.
Florida issued a policy change that no longer allows gender changes on driver's licenses last year. (Monique O. Madan/Miami Herald/Tribune News Service via Getty Images/Reuters/Demetrius Freeman)
“There are two separate problems,” Griffin said. “Number one renews your license and gets a gender reassignment. So there's a law against that in Florida. The DMV shouldn't have considered this. Number two, did this person really lose their license? Because if they didn't, and then they said they did, that's illegal.”
He continued, “And you'll see in the video that this person wrote that he made air quotes, and that's what led us to put in this last paragraph saying, hey, we have reason to believe based on your video, that it's possible that, you know, they lied about losing your license and so they're investigating that.”
FLORIDA UNIVERSITIES REVIVE GRADUATE COURSES AMID CONCERN OVER 'AWAKENED IDEOLOGIES'
The letter added that the Department will send a reminder to County tax collectors about Florida's laws on the matter and will conduct an investigation “to determine if similar mistakes have been made in the past.”
FLHSMV Executive Director Dave Kerner confirmed to Fox News Digital that the recall is likely to be sent out on Wednesday.
“We maintain quality assurance in our system to make sure it doesn't happen again,” said Kerner.
Griffin also released a statement on his X account.
“Because of this person's public statements, the error has been brought to @FLHSMV's attention for correction. Florida operates on truth, and Florida driver's licenses will only reflect a person's true gender,” Griffin wrote.
DeSantis' press secretary Jeremy Redfern commented similarly on the news from his X account.
“The FLHSMV canceled his license and sent him a corrected 'male.' That is dedicated service for which they should be grateful,” Redfern wrote.
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Fox News Digital has reached out to Rose and Creative Artists Agency for comment.
The FLHSMV released its new policy on gender on driver's licenses last year in a memo distributed to county tax collectors.
“Under section 322.17 FS, the Department may issue a replacement license only when the license or permit is lost or stolen, or when there is a subsequent change in the licensee's name, address, or restrictions,” Kynoch wrote at the time. “Furthermore, the term 'gender' in s. 322.08, FS, does not refer to a person's internal sense of their gender role or identification, but has historically and generally been understood as synonymous with 'gender,' which is determined by biological and genetic characteristics that are innate and unchangeable.”
