What Elliot Page’s Gender Marker Update Reminds Us About Name & Gender Changes in Nebraska

When actor Elliot Page publicly came out as trans, he also took the legal steps to update his name and gender markers on official documents.

It was a powerful reminder of why this process matters: when your documents reflect who you are, it impacts your safety, dignity, and ability to move through daily life.

But here in Nebraska, these processes are not simple—and they’re not consistent across different types of documents.

Here’s a clear-eyed look at what’s possible (and what remains challenging) for Nebraskans seeking legal name and gender marker changes:

Name Changes in Nebraska

For adults, this process is relatively straightforward:

1. You file a Petition for Name Change in District Court in the county where you live.

2. Under Nebraska law (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-21,271), the court generally requires that the name change be published in a newspaper once a week for four weeks—unless the court grants a waiver based on safety concerns (which is especially important for trans individuals).

3. After the required publication (or waiver) and a hearing, the court can grant a Name Change Order.

4. That court order can then be used to update your Social Security record, Nebraska driver’s license or ID, U.S. passport, bank accounts, and other records.

For minors, parents must file on their behalf, and the process is similar, with certain added requirements.

Gender Marker Changes in Nebraska

This is where the process gets much more complicated—and much more frustrating.

Driver’s License or State ID

Nebraska DMV currently allows for gender marker changes to M or F on your driver’s license or state ID.

While some advocates have pushed for a nonbinary “X” marker, Nebraska DMV policies have shifted, and as of now, “X” is not reliably available on state IDs. It’s important to check the latest DMV forms before applying.

To update your gender marker on your license or ID, you must submit:

• A Gender Designation Form signed by a licensed physician, nurse practitioner, or psychologist, verifying that you have undergone “appropriate clinical treatment” for gender transition.

What qualifies as “appropriate clinical treatment”? Nebraska’s standard is unfortunately vague and inconsistent, leaving many trans Nebraskans at the mercy of individual providers or DMV staff interpretations.

Birth Certificates

Nebraska law currently makes it extremely difficult—essentially impossible for many—to update gender markers on Nebraska birth certificates.

After years of advocacy gains, recent legislative and policy shifts have made this even more restricted. As of now, Nebraska typically requires proof of “sex reassignment surgery”—a deeply invasive and outdated standard—to approve a gender marker change on a birth certificate. Many trans people either cannot or do not want to undergo surgery to be recognized as who they are, making this barrier especially harmful.

Federal Documents

Thankfully, at the federal level, things are improving.

Trans individuals can now update their:

• U.S. Passport

• Social Security record

…without requiring surgery or overly burdensome medical proof.

This gives trans Nebraskans some consistency for travel and federal employment, even though their Nebraska documents may lag behind.

Why It Matters

Discrepancies between your documents aren’t just an inconvenience. They can cause real harm:

• Being outed without your consent

• Denials of housing or jobs

• Problems with health insurance

• Increased risk of harassment during travel or legal interactions

• Daily mental and emotional stress

That’s why figures like Elliot Page sharing their story is so important. It helps normalize this process and reminds us that having accurate documents is about more than bureaucracy—it’s about safety, dignity, and basic human rights.

Moving Forward

Here in Nebraska, these legal processes are uneven—and the laws are still evolving. For many of my trans and non-binary clients, the hardest part is simply knowing where to start, especially when safety and privacy concerns are involved.

That’s why it helps to have legal guidance from someone who understands both the legal side and the human side of this work.

If you’re considering a name change, gender marker update, or both—whether for yourself or for your child—I would be honored to help.

We can talk through:

• What’s possible under current Nebraska law

• Where federal documents can help

• How to navigate the most affirming path forward for you

And I promise—our conversations will always be confidential, compassionate, and supportive.

You can reach me at 402-259-0059 or zach@zandersonlaw.com to schedule a consultation.

Everyone deserves documents that reflect who they are. And everyone deserves to feel seen and supported in the legal process.