Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) issued a correction to a transgender TikToker who tried to change their gender on a driver’s license.
James Rose, a trans actor known as "Jamesissmiling" on TikTok, shared a now-deleted video on Dec. 20 claiming to have found a loophole in Florida’s laws.
"I just got my gender changed on my driver’s license in the free f---ing state of Florida," Rose said. "My god, Ron DeSantis would be screaming right now if he knew about this. This little license now says female on it."
Rose explained the process in the video. "If you’re replacing your driver’s license, not renewing it but replacing it because you ‘lost it,’ they have to take your information from a ‘primary document.’ A passport is considered a primary document, and you can self-identify on your passport, which means, loophole, you can self-identify on your Florida f---ing driver’s license."
On Tuesday, Libs of TikTok flagged the situation online. By Monday, FLHSMV had canceled Rose’s license, saying it violated state policy.
In a letter obtained by Fox News Digital, Deputy Executive Director Robert Kynoch confirmed the cancellation. "The sex identifier on the replacement Florida driver’s license issued to you on December 20, 2024, was improperly changed from male to female. Accordingly, that license…is invalid and has been canceled," it read.
The department is also investigating whether Rose violated laws by falsely claiming the license was "lost." Air quotes around the word "lost" in the video raised suspicions.
Ron DeSantis communications director Bryan Griffin commented, "The DMV should not have processed this. Also, if this person didn’t actually lose their license, that is unlawful."
Griffin noted the investigation is ongoing, adding, "Florida operates on truth, and Florida driver's licenses will only reflect an individual's true sex."
FLHSMV announced plans to remind County Tax Collectors of state policies and audit past licenses to ensure no similar errors occurred.
Executive Director Dave Kerner assured the public, "We maintain quality assurance in our program to ensure it won't happen again."
DeSantis press secretary Jeremy Redfern sarcastically noted on X, "FLHSMV canceled his license and sent him a corrected one that says ‘male.’ That’s some dedicated service. He should thank them."
A 2023 FLHSMV memo clarified Florida’s policy: "The term 'gender'…does not refer to a person’s internal sense of gender role or identification but has historically and commonly been understood as a synonym for 'sex,' determined by biological and genetic characteristics."